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
Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other nations in the region have vast quantities of oil money, access to plenty of power, and a strong desire to shift toward more high-tech economies by building out cutting-edge tech infrastructure.
—Will Knight, Wired News, 15 May 2025
Scott Neuman, NPR, 16 May 2025
When asked, another Caltrans spokesperson said the letter sent to employees in April served as the response to the rally.
Space savings
The difference between departments highlights just how differently state workers across Sacramento may experience the shift back to in-person work.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
For instance, Apple has already shifted some of its manufacturing and export operations to India.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 15 May 2025
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other nations in the region have vast quantities of oil money, access to plenty of power, and a strong desire to shift toward more high-tech economies by building out cutting-edge tech infrastructure.
—Will Knight, Wired News, 15 May 2025
Noun
But a confrontation with the courts was averted by an ideological shift.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 16 May 2025
When asked, another Caltrans spokesperson said the letter sent to employees in April served as the response to the rally.
Space savings
The difference between departments highlights just how differently state workers across Sacramento may experience the shift back to in-person work.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
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Among girls' names, Mia moves into the top 5, knocking out Sophia, which was the No. 1 name for girls from 2011-2013 and had been in the top 5 every year from 2009 except for 2021.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Besides privatization, there's also been talk of possibly moving the USPS under the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2025
Verb
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If their tail starts twitching or their ears are flattened, then they may be overstimulated, which can lead to aggression.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Real Estate As Ballast Against Market Turbulence Why does Manhattan real estate hold up while other assets twitch?—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That has begun to change: In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) banning sports betting outside of Nevada, opening the door for sites such as FanDuel and DraftKings.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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According to the Brewers Association, craft beer production decreased 4% in 2024 over the prior year, the third consecutive decline as consumer preferences continue to change.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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Peer groups, mastermind circles and business communities can provide a transformative space to exchange ideas and problem-solve.—
Hao Lam,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Iran and Israel have twice exchanged direct strikes, most recently in October, when the Israel Defense Forces claimed to have devastated Iranian air defense networks.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Verb
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To cope with the downturn, Hyatt responded by temporarily suspending operations at many of its hotels and implementing wide-scale workforce adjustments.—
Mind Share Partners,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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Research suggests parents who do this have children who are secure in their relationship with their parents, are more confident, have fewer behavior challenges, and are better able to weather difficulties and cope with challenges.—
Contributing,
Oc Register,
13 May 2025
Verb
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As for what will happen to the rides and attractions, the company told PEOPLE nothing is finalized and relocating or selling to other operators are options.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2025
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Fitting rooms have been relocated to what had previously been back-office space to allow the selling space to be expanded.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Cook, stirring constantly until clear and thickened.—
Kelly Brant,
Arkansas Online,
13 May 2025
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Promoting Marina without discussing it with him first makes Lara look like she’s known about Marina’s greatness all along, without giving the captain credit for stirring the department in the right direction.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Dry-Clean Only Rugs Recommendations on whether to steam clean a rug vary, even between two rugs that are made with the same material.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
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Still, All Stars has gone through some shifts over the years, implementing varying structural alterations to keep its viewers — and nowadays, its queens — coming back for more.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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