1
as in to move
to change the place or position of
he shifted the vase closer to the wall so that it wouldn't get knocked over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to twitch
to change one's position
she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to change
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
she watched the aurora in fascination as its colors shifted from green to blue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return
my brother and I shifted seats just before takeoff so that he could sit by the window
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5
as in to cope
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
desperate shifts to stave off financial disaster
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2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
made a small shift to the left to make more room on the bench
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shift
Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Namely, revenues are falling as viewers have shifted away from cable and broadcast television towards streaming and the theatrical film business has yet to recover from Covid.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Sam Saideman, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
The overhaul affects ICE field offices in at least eight cities and will replace many senior leaders with Border Patrol officials, marking an unprecedented power shift inside DHS and exposing sharp divisions over how far to go in ramping up deportations, the officials told Fox News.
—Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
The camera then shifts to show the coin is not alone on the train rail.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Namely, revenues are falling as viewers have shifted away from cable and broadcast television towards streaming and the theatrical film business has yet to recover from Covid.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
There is a shift happening in real time from timing and tags to trust and taste.
—Sam Saideman, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2025
The overhaul affects ICE field offices in at least eight cities and will replace many senior leaders with Border Patrol officials, marking an unprecedented power shift inside DHS and exposing sharp divisions over how far to go in ramping up deportations, the officials told Fox News.
—Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
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The buttery-soft fabric is lightweight and stretchy enough to move with you while still retaining its shape over time.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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On top of that responsibility and stress, he was frustrated with the Blazers’ losing and his role moving forward.—
Jason Quick,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Picture objects levitating or twitching without external interference—or switching rooms.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
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Her hand twitched from the heat.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Twelve of the 20 indicators for the health risks and impacts of climate change in the report set concerning new records—showing that the health impacts caused by our changing climate have reached unprecedented levels that cannot be ignored.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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An area rug can completely change how a room feels—adding warmth, softness, and personality from the very first step.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 1949 Abducted Persons (Recovery and Restoration) Act provides the framework by which Lajo’s husband and brother return from India to get her; under that edict, India and Pakistan agreed to exchange abducted women.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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After a few messages were exchanged, the 31-year-old went to his local Food Lion and ticked away at the items on the mom’s grocery list.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a rare moment of impressive hosting, Vanessa Lachey pointed out that Edmond's traumatic childhood and upbringing might result in him only focusing on the positive memories and blocking out any negative memories as a coping mechanism.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 10-2 vote in favor of the easier policy came as the Fed copes with an absence of timely economic data due to the four-week-old government shutdown.—
Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The main characters, who wake up chained to pipes, quickly realize amputating their own foot is the only means of escape.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
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Murphy isn't the only lottery winner in recent weeks to come up with a winning number through unusual means.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The shifting of hair hairstyles.—
Donnetta Monk,
Essence,
24 Oct. 2025
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Such unsupervised conversational shape-shifting would make this rogue Humbert particularly charismatic.—
Vauhini Vara,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As for his lodging, Andrew is set to relocate to a property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, according to the Telegraph, while his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who continued to live at Royal Lodge with Andrew even after their 1996 divorce, will need to sort out her own living arrangements.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
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If a backyard is not an option, place a large waterproof tarp in the middle of the living room, then relocate your area rug onto the flat surface.—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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