shift 1 of 2

1
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

shift

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word shift different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of shift are expedient, makeshift, resort, resource, and stopgap. While all these words mean "something one turns to in the absence of the usual means or source of supply," shift implies a tentative or temporary imperfect expedient.

desperate shifts to stave off foreclosure

When could expedient be used to replace shift?

The words expedient and shift can be used in similar contexts, but expedient may apply to any device or contrivance used when the usual one is not at hand or not possible.

a flimsy expedient

When is it sensible to use makeshift instead of shift?

The synonyms makeshift and shift are sometimes interchangeable, but makeshift implies an inferior expedient adopted because of urgent need or allowed through indifference.

old equipment employed as a makeshift

How are the words resource and resort related as synonyms of shift?

Both resource and resort apply to anything one falls back upon.

exhausted all of their resources
a last resort

When might stopgap be a better fit than shift?

While the synonyms stopgap and shift are close in meaning, stopgap applies to something used temporarily as an emergency measure.

a new law intended only as a stopgap

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shift
Verb
Joe Alt moved into Slater’s spot as Herbert’s blind-side protector from right tackle and Trey Pipkins III shifted from a backup’s role into Alt’s spot. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025 Local partnerships offer early insights into shifting political winds, and companies require real-time policy monitoring systems that track legislative activity, enforcement trends, and stakeholder campaigns. Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
The move reflected a broader shift in how many attorneys general now use their offices — not only to defend their states in court, but to score political points on the national stage. Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025 Argyle flourishes in this shift. Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
  • Sacramento State, which was denied in a bid to move up to FBS over the summer, came back from an early deficit to beat Mercyhurst, with Damian Henderson II running for 98 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Trump has a long history of moving from one tactic to another, like an ape branching between trees.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Prior to the 2024 incident, Mangione reportedly shared information on Reddit about a number of health issues, including struggles with back pain, brain fog, and twitching leg muscles.
    Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Owens argues the name change is currently cosmetic and is just costing a lot of money to change some signs.
    Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Haaland’s opening goal in the ninth minute changed the game-state but City defended deeper for spells against Manchester United, too, which suggests a more concerted evolution in style.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But the carrier avoided big changes in the process and instead focused on a deal with its bondholders, which exchanged almost $800 million in debt for equity, and it was greeted after bankruptcy with persistently higher costs and weaker-than-expected domestic travel demand.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The app gives owners the option to connect with the owners of their canine's relative, to exchange information about their pets or schedule a playdate.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To cope, Chinese companies have turned more to grouping large numbers of less efficient, often homegrown, chips together to achieve similar computing capabilities.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
  • But coping with that sentiment early next year would’ve brought terrible vibeshaving to the months leading up to the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The future of this rapidly expanding means of devising software by tapping into the generative capabilities of modern-era AI, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Llama, Grok, Gemini, and other large language models, will be discussed.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Such compounds can form by other means, such as, for example, the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide.
    Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Big Think, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Viewers will be treated to 4K Pro-UHD visuals at up to 150 diagonal inches, where 3,840 x 2,160-pixel resolution is achieved via pixel-shifting.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Additionally, self-help podcasts grew by 35% between 2019 and 2022 and apps also reflect shifting habits, with 70% of users preferring mindfulness and meditation tools.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The 27-year-old will relocate to Paris, SJ’s sister publication WWD reported, to oversee the creative side of shoes, leather goods and accessories.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Seydoux will lead the cast in the role of a renowned pianist who, after relocating with her family to the countryside, uncovers a life-shattering truth that forces her to confront the complexities of love, trust, and deception.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

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