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

Andy Kotelnicki had his share of job opportunities to sift through this offseason. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026

This is likely to continue for a considerable time, with thousands of images and emails to be sifted through. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 4 Feb. 2026

Trapped by a storm with a ballroom full of suspects, Hannah must sift through secrets, scandals, and sparkling masks to unmask a killer before the night ends. —Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026

Emory officials are sifting through the thousands of applications, a number that had a significant boost this year. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026

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