shift

1 of 2

verb

shifted; shifting; shifts

transitive verb

1
: to exchange for or replace by another : change
2
a
: to change the place, position, or direction of : move
b
: to make a change in (place)
3
: to change phonetically

intransitive verb

1
a
: to change place or position
b
: to change direction
the wind shifted
c
: to change gears
d
: to depress the shift key (as on a typewriter)
2
a
: to assume responsibility
had to shift for themselves
b
: to resort to expedients
3
a
: to go through a change
she shifted in her approach
b
: to change one's clothes
c
: to become changed phonetically
shiftable adjective

shift

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a means or device for effecting an end
b(1)
: a deceitful or underhand scheme : dodge
(2)
: an effort or expedient exerted or tried in difficult circumstances : extremity
was put to hard shifts for a livingBenjamin Franklin
2
a
chiefly dialectal : a change of clothes
b(1)
chiefly dialectal : shirt
(2)
: a woman's slip or chemise
(3)
: a usually loose-fitting or semifitted dress
3
a
: a change in direction
a shift in the wind
b
: a change in emphasis, judgment, or attitude
4
a
: a group of people who work or occupy themselves in turn with other groups
b(1)
: a change of one group of people (such as workers) for another in regular alternation
(2)
: a scheduled period of work or duty
works the night shift
5
: a change in place or position: such as
a
: a change in the position of the hand on a fingerboard (as of a violin)
b(1)
(2)
: the relative displacement of rock masses on opposite sides of a fault or fault zone
c(1)
: a simultaneous change of position in football by two or more players from one side of the line to the other
(2)
: a change of positions made by one or more players in baseball to provide better defense against a particular hitter
d
: a change in frequency resulting in a change in position of a spectral line or band compare doppler effect
e
: a movement of bits in a computer register (see register entry 1 sense 9) a specified number of places to the right or left
6
: a removal from one person or thing to another : transfer
7
8
: a bid in bridge in a suit other than the suit one's partner has bid compare jump
9
Phrases
shift gears
: to make a change
Choose the Right Synonym for shift

resource, resort, expedient, shift, makeshift, stopgap mean something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply.

resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon.

exhausted all of their resources
a last resort

expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible.

a flimsy expedient

shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient.

desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure

makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference.

old equipment employed as a makeshift

stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure.

a new law intended only as a stopgap

Examples of shift in a Sentence

Verb I shifted the bag to my other shoulder. She shifted her position slightly so she could see the stage better. They shifted him to a different department. He nervously shifted from foot to foot. She shifted in her seat. Public opinion has shifted dramatically in recent months. Their efforts to shift public opinion have failed. I wanted to shift the discussion back to the main point. They tried to shift the blame onto us. Their attempts at shifting attention away from the controversy seemed to be working. Noun There will be a shift of responsibility when she takes the new position. a shift away from tradition a gradual shift toward more liberal policies a shift in voter opinion The day shift worked overtime. The restaurant needed only one shift for lunch. He works the day shift.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Integrating security testing into the early stages of development—shifting left—enables teams to identify vulnerabilities earlier, reduce remediation costs and ensure secure coding practices, ultimately leading to more secure software releases. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 The continuously variable transmission has been tuned to accept the power output of the Pro R’s engine, and feels more positive when shifted into position. New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
Amid these changes, the industry will continue evolving with the introduction of advanced technologies and generational shifts. Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 Imagine a sales rep mastering online conferencing tools to chat virtually with customers, reflecting the shift towards digital interactions. Sho Dewan, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for shift 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English sciftan to divide, arrange; akin to Old Norse skipa to arrange, assign

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shift was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near shift

Cite this Entry

“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shift. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

shift

1 of 2 verb
1
: to exchange for another of the same kind
2
a
: to change the place, position, or direction of
b
: to make a change in place, position, or direction
the wind shifted
c
: to change the gear rotating the transmission shaft of an automobile
3
: to get along without help : fend
left the others to shift for themselves

shift

2 of 2 noun
1
: a means or device for getting something done
2
3
: the act of shifting
4
: a group of workers who work together during a scheduled period of time
also : the period of time during which they work
5

Medical Definition

shift

noun
: a change in place, position, or frequency: as
a
: a change in frequency resulting in a change in position of a spectral line or band compare doppler effect
b
: a removal or transfer from one thing or place to another see chloride shift

More from Merriam-Webster on shift

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