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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 shifting
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The self is a shifting, inconstant phenomenon, brain and body ever transforming in time and space, with no clear delineation between what is self and what is other.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Jordan Fuja, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, said the shifting of some expenses to special revenue funds impacted some non-general fund positions.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The committee would be focused on cost-cutting, expense shifting, waste reduction in spending and services as well as sustainability, which would focus on the long-term fiscal health of the county, according to the proposal.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Israel’s shape-shifting isn’t new.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2025
What’s planned is something like the shifting of the agrarian village to an organized industry—producing wool for garments to be sold for the benefit of an absentee owner.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
The vulcanized sneaker resurgence is on, with Vans as one of the brands poised best to benefit from the shifting of trends.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Marco Hernandez, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
The Globe’s decision to stand by McCarthy is the latest in a series of indications that newsroom culture is shifting radically to match this backlash moment.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Big-name candidates and national attention are shifting the political dynamics of gubernatorial races across the country, posing challenges and opportunities for both parties.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
But with the program’s trajectory shifting under Leipold, and Missouri coming off consecutive double-digit-victory seasons and bidding to become an SEC top-half regular, Border War meetings in this era should be competitive.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
This is especially the case in developing countries, in which incomes are steadily climbing and diets, in turn, are shifting.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Besides being essential to many kinds of consumer technology, including cellphones, hard drives and electric and hybrid vehicles, rare-earth minerals also are considered crucial to shifting the economy away from fossil fuels toward electricity and renewable energy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
But can this system of migrant labor survive the shifting political winds within the GOP?
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
To tackle the issue, the researchers designed a detector, based on the Spallation Neutron Source neutron detector technology that uses wavelength-shifting fibers, to capture both the energy and scattering angles of muons in real time.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
But the combination of a winter break, some additional scheduling imbalances to help the league’s coldest markets, and perhaps even the shifting of Leagues Cup on the annual schedule should make those challenges solvable.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
The self is a shifting, inconstant phenomenon, brain and body ever transforming in time and space, with no clear delineation between what is self and what is other.
—Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Jordan Fuja, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, said the shifting of some expenses to special revenue funds impacted some non-general fund positions.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
The committee would be focused on cost-cutting, expense shifting, waste reduction in spending and services as well as sustainability, which would focus on the long-term fiscal health of the county, according to the proposal.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Israel’s shape-shifting isn’t new.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2025
What’s planned is something like the shifting of the agrarian village to an organized industry—producing wool for garments to be sold for the benefit of an absentee owner.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
The vulcanized sneaker resurgence is on, with Vans as one of the brands poised best to benefit from the shifting of trends.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
To maintain tanks’ relevance, Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have covered them in different configurations of armor as ad hoc solutions to rapidly shifting tactics.
—Marco Hernandez, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
The Globe’s decision to stand by McCarthy is the latest in a series of indications that newsroom culture is shifting radically to match this backlash moment.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Big-name candidates and national attention are shifting the political dynamics of gubernatorial races across the country, posing challenges and opportunities for both parties.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
But with the program’s trajectory shifting under Leipold, and Missouri coming off consecutive double-digit-victory seasons and bidding to become an SEC top-half regular, Border War meetings in this era should be competitive.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
This is especially the case in developing countries, in which incomes are steadily climbing and diets, in turn, are shifting.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Besides being essential to many kinds of consumer technology, including cellphones, hard drives and electric and hybrid vehicles, rare-earth minerals also are considered crucial to shifting the economy away from fossil fuels toward electricity and renewable energy.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
But can this system of migrant labor survive the shifting political winds within the GOP?
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 30 Aug. 2025
To tackle the issue, the researchers designed a detector, based on the Spallation Neutron Source neutron detector technology that uses wavelength-shifting fibers, to capture both the energy and scattering angles of muons in real time.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifting
Noun
-
Mamdani has since rebuffed his position on police, instead calling for tactical shifts in operation.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
These ingredients reflect a growing shift in pet wellness away from simply slowing joint deterioration and toward rebuilding comfort, restoring flexibility, and reducing inflammation at the source.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Woolen was running stride-for-stride with Pearsall but misplayed the ball and slowed down while the second-year wideout kept moving forward.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Cavitation, on the other hand, provides a high-energy, controllable launch system that doesn’t require onboard power or moving parts.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But as soon as my squirming newborn was placed on my chest, I was overcome by the desire not to keep these works to myself, but to share my love of literature with my baby.—
Ilana Kurshan,
The Atlantic,
24 Aug. 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
-
Tactics will remain flexible to adapt to changing fire behavior, terrain limitations, and resource availability.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Loosely cover the jar and keep it in the fridge for up to a week, changing the water every day or two.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Carter then walked toward the Cowboys’ huddle, leading to the two exchanging words and Carter spitting on Prescott.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The Johnson County district attorney has found that a Shawnee police officer was justified to use deadly force in exchanging gunfire with a 19-year-old the officer was trying to take into custody earlier this year.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And so this is a coping mechanism.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Researchers can investigate coping strategies and resources that empower Black and Hispanic teens and their parents, and evaluate their effectiveness in supporting adolescent well-being.—
Alvin Thomas,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Pulte’s criminal referral against Cook presented Trump with another avenue for bending the traditionally independent Fed to his will, securing a majority of the Fed’s board by firing Cook, a move that Cook has sued to block.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In a historic move for the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV will declare the first ever saint from the Millennial generation this Sunday — and Catholics in Miami are celebrating.—
Lauren Costantino
September 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Rise of Erewhon Erewhon’s origin story began in the 1960s as a humble natural foods shop in Boston, Massachusetts, before relocating and rebranding into a California-only empire of 11 locations.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Bugner fought for 32 years, ending his career in 1999 before relocating to Australia.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifting. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share