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
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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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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
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
As owner of the Keush winery, Vahe and his daughter Aimee helped shift the industry from survival to intention.
—Marlise Kast-Myers, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Shipment decline To be sure, iPhone shipments could fall roughly 2% year-over-year due to a shift in Apple’s new product schedule, which may challenge Amkor’s communications unit, according to Moore.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
On a pleasant, overcast Saturday afternoon along Colorado Avenue, The Coach Prime Era at CU officially shifted from the honeymoon phase to the reality phase.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026
As owner of the Keush winery, Vahe and his daughter Aimee helped shift the industry from survival to intention.
—Marlise Kast-Myers, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
Other parents lost jobs and income because poorly paid private duty nurses failed to show up for their shifts, forcing parents to stay home.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Shipment decline To be sure, iPhone shipments could fall roughly 2% year-over-year due to a shift in Apple’s new product schedule, which may challenge Amkor’s communications unit, according to Moore.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
-
The draft pick was top-10 protected in 2026, and with the Panthers owning the eighth-worst record in the NHL this season, the worst that pick can be after the draft lottery is 10th, as a maximum of two teams can potentially move up past the Panthers in that lottery.—
Steve Svekis,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Homeowner Maha Amin moved three dozen sandbags from the trunk of her car to her driveway Thursday, bracing for more flooding in Des Plaines.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The launch can also be viewed on NASA's social media platforms include Facebook, twitch and X as well as NASA+, the agency's streaming service.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Curry’s body began convulsing and twitching with increasing severity, consistent with him sustaining a traumatic brain injury from being punched in the face, documents state.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The quota, however, is linked to a controversial separate bill to change voting boundaries, a process that could increase the number of seats in the lower house from 543 to about 850.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Almost every bus route is changing.—
Sara Gregory,
AJC.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Demetra Henderson-Burkhalter, meanwhile, had also exchanged many calls with a New Orleans man named Cornelius Garrison III, who had been a plaintiff in a lawsuit arising from a truck collision in 2015 and had been listed as a witness to another collision in 2014.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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But Kardashian and Barker’s wedding is better known for its apparent Dolce & Gabbana brand integration—the fashion house designed the bride’s wedding looks and the seaside villa where the couple exchanged their vows was owned by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a bid to cope with the fallout of the energy shock, governments around the world have been quick to impose measures from fuel export bans to loosening refining standards.—
Michael Considine,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Americans are cutting back on streaming services When goods and services cost more, one way to cope is to spend less.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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California is not unique, and housing is not the only means by which the older generations have effectively pulled up the ladder behind them.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
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Which is fortunate for Musselman, given there will be less means to lure players from the portal.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The conventions of American journalism don’t serve this shifting, multi-sided reality well.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Land borders dispute since 1948 The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which led to the mass displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians and a subsequent Arab-Israeli war in 1948, led to a further shifting of borders in the region.—
Mireille Rebeiz,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cobb County resident, Donna Gates, was at Tuesday's work session and feels like the only solution is relocating the transfer center.—
Emily McLeod,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Since the church has relocated from downtown Waukegan to the north side of the city, McFadden said some time will be spent in the local neighborhood making the area look better.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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