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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shift
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Winds will shift to the south overnight into Monday, beginning the start of warmer weather.
—Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
In 2027, the focus shifts south to Andalucía.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
The research frontier also shifted.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Winds will shift to the south overnight into Monday, beginning the start of warmer weather.
—Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
Noun
To stop the bleeding versus a Minnesota bunch with 18,000 Midwesterners at their back, screaming at every shift change?
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
In 2027, the focus shifts south to Andalucía.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
-
The campaign now moves forward with voters weighing sharply different visions for California’s future as the primary draws closer.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
The Raiders had their worst season since moving to Las Vegas last year.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Here, American fighter planes, cargo ships and Japanese freighters have spent decades transforming into thriving artificial reefs, draped in coral and surrounded by twitching clouds of tropical fish.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
-
Pebbles twitched, branches waggled, cholla wiggled, weeds erupted then dried up and died.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The map has changed multiple times over the past month, and at one point was removed from the website entirely.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Even when facing the best offense in baseball, Imanaga’s standard doesn’t change.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Something casually exchanged could become strategically useful.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
The Andes virus is a rare variant that can be passed from person to person through significant and intimate close contact such as sharing a bed for an extended period of time or exchanging saliva.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
In real space travel, however, or for anyone living off-world long term, coping with cosmic and solar radiation would be one of the most crucial considerations for survival.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
However, some people use dark humor to cope with tragedy or fears surrounding a health crisis, and still exhibit emotional intelligence or empathy in their interpersonal relationships or other parts of their lives.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
That Johnson was Hafley’s first selection in the secondary means he will not only be asked to contribute early but will surely have his coach’s attention from the onset.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2026
-
Some employ these tools respectfully and responsibly, creating new means to share the stories of victims or of the rapidly diminishing number of living witnesses.—
Toby Axelrod,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 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
-
The decor with sheepskin rugs and arm lamps for reading lights is neither flashy nor overtly quirky, but simple and homey, as if it were designed by a tasteful Scandinavian grandmother who relocated to the wilds of Patagonia.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
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While moving abroad may sound like a dream, there are plenty of logistics to consider before relocating.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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