gearshift

noun

gear·​shift ˈgir-ˌshift 

variants or gear shift

plural gearshifts or gear shifts

1

: a mechanism by which the transmission gears in a power-transmission system are engaged and disengaged

also : a lever for controlling such a mechanism

2

: the functioning of a gearshift mechanism : the act or an instance of shifting gears

A new, eight-speed automatic transmission makes gear shifts based in part on g-forces that the car encounters during spirited driving.

—Ann M. Job

Examples of gearshift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Renshaw slammed the gearshift, rocked back and forth, and eventually clawed her way out. —Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025

Used with the paddle shifters at the steering wheel, the S+ Shift system mimics gearshift response with rev-matching, downshift blips, and gear-holding simulations. —New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2025

The gearshift lever that had always stuck up between the seats was gone, replaced by buttons to open up the cabin. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 June 2025

According to Pope, Merritt superglued the gearshift in Brown’s car — an old Audi sedan — following a shouting argument. —Ian Frisch, Curbed, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gearshift

• adrift
• airlift
• facelift
• festschrift
• forklift
• makeshift
• redshift
• sealift
• snowdrift
• spendthrift
• clift
• drift

Kids Definition

gearshift

noun

gear·​shift ˈgi(ə)r-ˌshift 

: a mechanism by which transmission gears are connected and disconnected