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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shift
James Raia, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Van Cleve and Rendel have since seen referrals shift from Ostaszewski to Facebook and, more recently, to Reddit.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
On the rare occasion a visiting ship is in, the entire village shifts into gear.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
The mechanism moves awkwardly from driving modes to the paddle-shifting option or into reverse.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Van Cleve and Rendel have since seen referrals shift from Ostaszewski to Facebook and, more recently, to Reddit.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
These shifts were measured with an accuracy of one part in a billion.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
On the rare occasion a visiting ship is in, the entire village shifts into gear.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
-
Prisoners have been moved because of staffing, food, and capacity shortages at the facilities where they were being held.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The rain will start to clear out Sunday evening as the front moves through and begins to usher in drier, but cooler temperatures for next week.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Now called The Palms — records show the home changed ownership both in 2018 and 2019 — the ALF has been cited by health regulators for 90 violations since 2012.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, barely any words are exchanged.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The teams exchanged runs in the 10th, Seattle scoring on Randy Arozarena's RBI single and the Angels on Logan O'Hoppe's sacrifice fly.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Owens' family awaited the trial, her four children -- Izzy, Isaac, Afrika and Titus -- had to cope with a life without their mother.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Humor plays a vital role in helping older adults, especially, cope with aging and bereavement, according to new research.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
McLeod also emphasized the urgency of incorporating and said that many people get the wrong message about what becoming a city means.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Luna himself has acknowledged never finding any, and department policy has always provided for the means to discipline and terminate any employee who engages in behavior that harms the public, fellow employees, or is otherwise prohibited by law.—
Opinion Staff,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Consumer advocates and some regulatory analysts have raised concerns that the separate rate proposal is not strong enough to fully protect non-data center customers from cost shifting related to new energy projects.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The shifting perspective is the magic of the show.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This film is about the government ordering the elderly to relocate to distant housing colonies to maximize economic productivity.—
Adam Bell
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The restructuring will also relocate about 260 positions to Utah and establish 15 state directors.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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