Definition of sift
transitive verb
1a : to put through a sieve sift flourb : to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve
2 : to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable sifted the evidence —often used with through sift through a pile of old letters
3 : to scatter by or as if by sifting sift sugar on a cake
intransitive verb
1 : to use a sieve
2 : to pass or fall as if through a sieve
sifter
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of sift in a Sentence
Sift the flour into a mixing bowl.
Sift the lumps from the sugar.
The police sifted the evidence in hopes of finding a clue.
The police sifted for clues.
The lawyer sifted through the hundreds of pages of testimony.
Firefighters sifted through the debris.
Recent Examples of sift from the Web
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His stained hands sift through jagged pieces of charcoal in his busy shop in South Sudan’s capital.
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Sifting Responses Canadian Securities Administrators, formed from regulators from each of the country’s 10 provinces and three territories, is overseeing the rule change.
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Algorithms such as neural networks excel in sifting signal from background, says Pushpalatha Bhat, a physicist at Fermilab.
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In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
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To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour and salt.
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Baking is a science, and there is a reason the recipe calls for proper measuring, sifting and beating for specific amounts of time.
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In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
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Any person with a web connection can participate in news coverage, follow contradicting reports, sift through blurry photos, and pick out (or publish) bad information.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sift.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sift
Middle English, from Old English siftan; akin to Old English sife sieve
SIFT Defined for English Language Learners
sift
playDefinition of sift for English Language Learners
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: to put (flour, sugar, etc.) through a sifter or sieve
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: to separate or remove (something) by using a sifter or sieve
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: to go through (something) very carefully in order to find something useful or valuable
SIFT Defined for Kids
sift
playDefinition of sift for Students
sifted
;sifting
1 : to pass or cause to pass through a sieve sift flour
2 : to separate or separate out by or as if by passing through a sieve I sifted the lumps.
3 : to test or examine carefully Police will sift through the evidence.
sifter
nounLearn More about sift
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See words that rhyme with sift Spanish Central: Translation of sift Nglish: Translation of sift for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sift for Arabic speakers
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