as in shift
the act or an instance of changing position
the shifting of the toys to the front of the display was a direct result of their sudden popularity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in moving
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in squirming
to change one's position
she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
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 exchanging
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 coping
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shifting
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Since starting Fulham’s season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion after a strong pre-season, King has become a key contributor to the side’s shape-shifting on the pitch with his relentless work-rate and clever movement out of possession, and tidiness with the ball.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
An autumn train ride is a great way to experience the shifting of the seasons and learn about the history of the region, all while soaking in the views of southwest Colorado’s dramatic landscapes.
—Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2025
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, 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
Your narrative, with its shifting of points of view among four longtime friends, allows for intimacy and drama as well as betrayals and loss as Desiree, Nakia, Monique and January (with Desiree’s estranged sister Danielle mostly on the sidelines) each tell their stories.
—Jane Ciabattari
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
The river’s bends are driven by larger-scale, longer-term phenomena — the shifting of tectonic plates, the erosion of the riverbank by plant roots, the volume of water flowing through the atmosphere and landscape, and more.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
But that release was delayed for two months, as officials, in public and before judges in Maryland and Tennessee, offered shifting explanations as to the government’s intentions with the indictment.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
The mini-alliances keep shifting.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
A number of factors contribute to the erosion of the Outer Banks barrier islands, including their low-lying and naturally sandy character, which leaves them vulnerable to shifting and wave action.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
That's because the city has a history of shifting on this issue, from when pursuits were restricted following bystander deaths, and then loosened in response to carjackings and reckless driving in the city.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Even more detailed views came courtesy of astrophotographer Dan Bartlett, who imaged the comet over multiple nights to reveal how the complex structure of its ever-shifting tail evolved over time from his backyard in June Lake, California, over recent weeks.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The platform automatically adjusts to shifting wind and wave conditions by pumping water in or out of tanks within its three support columns.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Fading from an emerald green up front to a Prince-like purple, the shades represent the shifting moods that inspired the sneaker.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2025
The highlight talk was perhaps with industry vet Patrick Wachsberger, who urged caution over fears surrounding the shifting industry landscape.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Look no further than Larroudé (every It-girl’s footwear retailer of choice nowadays) and its wide selection of shoe styles that are perfectly timed to the shifting of the seasons and your urgent need to make the style statement of the century.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Since starting Fulham’s season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion after a strong pre-season, King has become a key contributor to the side’s shape-shifting on the pitch with his relentless work-rate and clever movement out of possession, and tidiness with the ball.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
An autumn train ride is a great way to experience the shifting of the seasons and learn about the history of the region, all while soaking in the views of southwest Colorado’s dramatic landscapes.
—Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2025
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, 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
Your narrative, with its shifting of points of view among four longtime friends, allows for intimacy and drama as well as betrayals and loss as Desiree, Nakia, Monique and January (with Desiree’s estranged sister Danielle mostly on the sidelines) each tell their stories.
—Jane Ciabattari
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
The river’s bends are driven by larger-scale, longer-term phenomena — the shifting of tectonic plates, the erosion of the riverbank by plant roots, the volume of water flowing through the atmosphere and landscape, and more.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
But that release was delayed for two months, as officials, in public and before judges in Maryland and Tennessee, offered shifting explanations as to the government’s intentions with the indictment.
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Moyes rejigged his attack, bringing in £35million summer signing Tyler Dibling for Dewsbury-Hall and shifting Iliman Ndiaye into the No 10 role.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
The mini-alliances keep shifting.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
A number of factors contribute to the erosion of the Outer Banks barrier islands, including their low-lying and naturally sandy character, which leaves them vulnerable to shifting and wave action.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
That's because the city has a history of shifting on this issue, from when pursuits were restricted following bystander deaths, and then loosened in response to carjackings and reckless driving in the city.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Even more detailed views came courtesy of astrophotographer Dan Bartlett, who imaged the comet over multiple nights to reveal how the complex structure of its ever-shifting tail evolved over time from his backyard in June Lake, California, over recent weeks.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The platform automatically adjusts to shifting wind and wave conditions by pumping water in or out of tanks within its three support columns.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025
Fading from an emerald green up front to a Prince-like purple, the shades represent the shifting moods that inspired the sneaker.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2025
The highlight talk was perhaps with industry vet Patrick Wachsberger, who urged caution over fears surrounding the shifting industry landscape.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifting
Noun
-
Over and over, the department has used the threat of pulling federal funding to force compliance with new directives and rapid shifts in policy.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
-
This is fantastic for multitasking and can make the difference between finishing your workload and getting to it next shift.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hurts then hit Jahan Dotson for 24 yards, moving the Eagles to the Denver 29-yard line with nine seconds left.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In a positive sign, Nunoo was moving his hands and fingers, according to Sutton.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Still, Sabbath sounded amazing, the band’s distinctive vibe of limitless cosmic encumbrance, of Man squirming under the thumb of Fate, God, madness—the essential heavy-metal vision—somehow magnified by the venerable wobbliness of its playing.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
-
With net in hand, the future microbial geochemist dredged up seaweed and mud squirming with snails, crab larvae and other small invertebrates.—
Laura Poppick,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Tourists are still enjoying Michigan's lineup of dynamic fall events amid Apple Month and Michigan Agritourism Month this October and are flexible to changing fall color patterns, said Nick Nerbonne, media and digital director for Travel Michigan.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The United States Postal Service is temporarily changing its prices for the holiday season.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here, Alex investigates suspicious activity among the townspeople, navigating the shop while drawing curious looks from other customers and exchanging tense words with the store clerk.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Both parties appear to still be exchanging tweets as of this writing.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
David Fry remembers pacing in the batting cage during the 2024 playoffs, his way of coping with wielding no influence over what was unfolding on the field.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
My son is a future engineer, or maybe an entrepreneur—he got kicked off the bus in Kindergarten for starting a bubble gum trading ring, his coping mechanism for controlling social interactions.—
Hayley Matz Meadvin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
No other products or services will be impacted, the agency said, noting the move is a strategic part of USPS’s 10-year plan to create a revitalized organization.—
Michelle Del Rey,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The Dallas Stars are considering a move outside city limits when their lease at American Airlines Center expires in 2031.—
Rob Rossi,
New York Times,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ebert said that the festival has already been approached by concerned locals who are trying to figure out funding, and relocating elsewhere is still a possibility.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Now, the bank is relocating down the road to the Harris Building at 13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifting. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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