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
Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
As the publication faces a shifting media landscape, Andy and Miranda team up with fellow former assistant Emily, now head of a luxury brand, to buy advertising that could save Runway from ruin.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The Road to the Roses is over, and now the spotlight shifts to Churchill Downs, where the 152nd Kentucky Derby is ready to take over Louisville in all its glorious chaos.
—Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
Warm days may signal planting time, but cool nights and shifting conditions remind us to move forward carefully.
—Heather Zidack, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
As the publication faces a shifting media landscape, Andy and Miranda team up with fellow former assistant Emily, now head of a luxury brand, to buy advertising that could save Runway from ruin.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
There has been a notable shift at the top of the table.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
The Road to the Roses is over, and now the spotlight shifts to Churchill Downs, where the 152nd Kentucky Derby is ready to take over Louisville in all its glorious chaos.
—Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
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He was instructed to respond by moving his eyes from left to right, and sure enough, the researchers counted two rightward movements of his eyes.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
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Mercury moves through your 1st House of Identity, sharpening your voice and making your words more direct than usual.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Pebbles twitched, branches waggled, cholla wiggled, weeds erupted then dried up and died.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Issue One, an advocacy group tracking redistricting nationwide, said changing maps for 2026 could be difficult because many states have already held primaries and legal challenges would place significant obstacles before the general election.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Why then hesitate at giving people information about themselves that will actually change their life for the better?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The play can get intense and competitive, but some people are more interested in the social component of mahjong, being next to neighbors and exchanging stories or game tips.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
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The pro football player, 28, and his wife, 24, exchanged vows underneath a marble dome surrounded by blush-toned blooms, set directly in front of a lake fountain.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, Vietnam’s civil aviation authority proposed introducing a fuel surcharge mechanism for domestic flights to help airlines cope with the rising costs.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Along the way, the newshound nurtured a personal passion for writing poetry as an outlet for coping with homesickness and stress.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One chapter closes, another opens The destruction of several Russian Kamov Ka-52s using drones doesn’t signal the end of the attack helicopter by any means.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
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Still, this isn’t a bad group by any means, and the team could easily go into the season with Barmore, Durden, Taylor, Williams and Farmer/Gregory.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The conventions of American journalism don’t serve this shifting, multi-sided reality well.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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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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Senior state safety officials this month advised New London to do a comprehensive inspection of the five-story, 30-apartment building on the city’s waterfront, and be prepared to revoke the certificate of occupancy and relocate tenants if necessary.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
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The trend has been that few actually would relocate.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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