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
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
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Recent Examples of shift
News Desk, Artforum, 22 Feb. 2026
That means shifting the policy emphasis on affordability to dignity.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Michael Phillis, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Powell slapped a lead-off single to the left side, away from the shift, but was thrown out at second while trying to steal.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
Initially launching her career as a printmaker, Maurer in the late 1960s shifted her attention to photography and painting as means of exploring the serial aspects of motion, a concept that would fascinate her all her life.
—News Desk, Artforum, 22 Feb. 2026
That means shifting the policy emphasis on affordability to dignity.
—Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
Changes in methodology, including assuming that communities that did not submit data did not have lead pipes, resulted in the significant shift.
—Michael Phillis, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Powell slapped a lead-off single to the left side, away from the shift, but was thrown out at second while trying to steal.
—Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
-
Montage founder, Alan Fuerstman, personally moves into every new property for its first month of operations to ensure the brand’s signature five-star service is up to snuff.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The players could feel the former United and Wales winger starting to move up the gears.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The film uses music, the clippity-clop of hooves and twitching furry ears for her three donkeys — Palaye, Ruperto, Palomo — to surf critical acclaim on the film festival circuit to the upcoming Academy Awards.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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Baby Briana’s arms twitched and legs flopped against cold concrete.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Survivor is a particularly interesting example of changing beauty trends because contestants don't have access to makeup or skin care products on the island—save for sunscreen (more of a health necessity than a beauty one).—
Erika W. Smith,
Allure,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, has proposed a new set of draft regulations that would change how some allowances are distributed.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So precarious is the species’ survival that the eggs were exchanged for fake replacements while the real ones were incubated indoors.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The mother and daughter, both in tears, exchanged a quick hug before Estrada Juarez was taken away.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That approach cuts the costs of medicines, creates local jobs, and instills reliance to better cope with global shocks.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Gayheart, meanwhile, penned an essay for The Cut that December that offered an inside glimpse at how her family was coping with the diagnosis.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The organization was appealing to Garton and the fair because of its commitment to bridging the gap for people who may have received aid from FEMA or other programs, but who do not have the financial means to rebuild fully.—
Charlie Vargas,
Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The discrepancy comes in large part from men being likelier to choose more lethal means, such as firearms.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Tuck thick layers of dryer lint between and around fragile items to pad them from any shifting of the box’s contents.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Either way, Meloni has mastered political shape-shifting, becoming a bridge between nationalist and mainstream Europe.—
Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The backstory In 2015, Grigg came up with the ambitious idea of relocating a 160-year-old kominka from Tochigi Prefecture to Niseko.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Juiz de Fora's City Hall said in a statement that around 600 families living in endangered areas were about to be relocated to local schools improvised as shelters and that the city experienced double the rain expected for February.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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