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
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shift
Alice Pfeiffer, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
For Knight, everything — his empire, his purpose, his identity — shifted after Tupac’s death.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 July 2025
The bill also includes new requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, which provides food assistance to around 42 million Americans, and shifts more of the cost to states.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shift
Verb
In a climate of uncertainty, designers proposed modular, adaptable wardrobes attuned to a global consumer, and the attention shifted away from slogans and theatrics toward refined construction and nuance, with block colors, versatile garments and an eye towards utility.
—Alice Pfeiffer, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
For Knight, everything — his empire, his purpose, his identity — shifted after Tupac’s death.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
In one of the many questions she’s recently had to field about the topic, Williams acknowledged the concerning shift in vibes amid the rapid, unknowable evolution of AI.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 July 2025
The bill also includes new requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, which provides food assistance to around 42 million Americans, and shifts more of the cost to states.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shift
Verb
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Neither of these steps will be easy: Hezbollah is under pressure from Lebanese officials and continues to suffer Israeli bombardment, and the new Syrian government, which is consolidating control over its territory, is hostile to Iran and has begun moving closer to Israel.—
MOHAMMAD AYATOLLAHI TABAAR,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2025
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As reported by The Athletic, an agreement for the 20-year-old Japan international was reached for £5million ($6.8m, 1billion Japanese yen), which represents a record fee for a player in the J League — the top division of Japanese football — moving overseas.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Verb
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The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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So instead, designers tweaked certain details, like twitching nerves under his skin and the iridescence in his scales.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
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That’s changed in the year and a half since: Lawson, now 21, has interviews lined up to be a train conductor, a job that starts out with an $80,000 annual salary and could open the door for other higher-earning positions in the years to come.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
5 July 2025
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The petals of flowers will change depending on how basic or acidic the soil is.—
Dr. Nick Goltz,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2025
Verb
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While chasing the suspect later in the morning, officers exchanged gunfire with the man and killed him.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
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The noon Christmas in July event began with a lunch, then residents exchanged gifts during a popular seasonal game called white elephant – where typically low-cost items or interesting things lying around the house are wrapped and put in play.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Similarly, his younger supporting cast may be good enough to cope with the MLS’ demands, but was brutally exposed at this level.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The book, initially written for her children, addressed coping with grief.—
July 1,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Gang members have forced government offices and agencies to relocate, affecting access to essential services and accelerating the country’s economic collapse.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2025
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The mom was relocated overnight to another location, and later that morning, police received another 911 call — this time from the mother.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Just the idea of a super-fight between generations has already stirred the pot.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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Unfortunately, except for some stirring segments, Man of Steel fails to craft a story worthy of its character.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Some gold products are easier to liquidate than others, and dealer buy-back policies can vary.—
Max Baecker,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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However, protocols for responding to wildlife conflicts that are not life-threatening can vary from one community to another.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shift. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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