sift

verb

ˈsift 

sifted; sifting; sifts

transitive verb

1

a

: to put through a sieve

sift flour

b

: 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 noun

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 on the Web

Later, while sifting through their collections, researchers noticed three unfamiliar-looking fish, the 2025 study said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

Look in the mangroves for snapper, sift through the low sea grass for a chance to catch tarpon, or troll on the back of your boat for delicious mahi-mahi or swordfish. —Teaghan Skulszki, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025

But sifting through this behemoth of a Creative Arts ballot, a handful of especially compelling narratives emerge. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025

Very few pass by without sifting through the racks of gold and cardinal that saturate the house’s lawn. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English siftan; akin to Old English sife sieve

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for sift

• clift
• drift
• gift
• lift
• miffed
• rift
• shift
• shrift
• sniffed
• thrift
• tift
• adrift

Kids Definition

sift

verb

ˈsift 

1

a

: to put through a sieve

sift flour

b

: 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

sift evidence

sift through a pile of papers

sifter noun