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
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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
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Recent Examples of shifting
Donnetta Monk, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
Such unsupervised conversational shape-shifting would make this rogue Humbert particularly charismatic.
—Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
Jones concluded this decline likely reflects fewer large investors and less intense buyer competition, with a housing market shifting, slowly, toward more balance.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
Offenses started shifting toward using more 11 personnel (three receivers, one tight end, one running back) a little over a decade ago.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The changing architecture of the music industry—shifting from single and album sales to streams, downloads and multi-track charts—complicates direct comparisons.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Fortune has chronicled the growing pressure on companies to either scale back or quietly rebrand DEI programs amid shifting political and cultural winds.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Adding to the security concerns is the overall cost to shifting networks.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Cory Debaere, division chief of fire prevention, said in an interview that the department will be shifting inspectors from other divisions to conduct these inspections.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Israel’s offensives displaced most of Gaza’s population, forcing more than two million people to run for safety to the shifting patches of land the Israeli military described as humanitarian zones.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Each week, social media has buzzed with his latest one-handed reception or shape-shifting juke.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
The shifting of hair hairstyles.
—Donnetta Monk, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
Such unsupervised conversational shape-shifting would make this rogue Humbert particularly charismatic.
—Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
Jones concluded this decline likely reflects fewer large investors and less intense buyer competition, with a housing market shifting, slowly, toward more balance.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
The constantly shifting allegiances are meant to form a twisty yarn in the aggregate, though the effect is largely just confusing — especially when Helen gets a subplot investigating her own past that distracts from her role as the chilly, withholding boss.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
Offenses started shifting toward using more 11 personnel (three receivers, one tight end, one running back) a little over a decade ago.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The changing architecture of the music industry—shifting from single and album sales to streams, downloads and multi-track charts—complicates direct comparisons.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Fortune has chronicled the growing pressure on companies to either scale back or quietly rebrand DEI programs amid shifting political and cultural winds.
—Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Adding to the security concerns is the overall cost to shifting networks.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
Cory Debaere, division chief of fire prevention, said in an interview that the department will be shifting inspectors from other divisions to conduct these inspections.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Israel’s offensives displaced most of Gaza’s population, forcing more than two million people to run for safety to the shifting patches of land the Israeli military described as humanitarian zones.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Each week, social media has buzzed with his latest one-handed reception or shape-shifting juke.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifting
Noun
-
To many analysts, this shift might have seemed baffling.—
Mira Rapp-Hooper,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The abrupt tonal shift left some MLB viewers confused, sparking an online conversation.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mequon is creating a long-term plan for the area near City Hall, which could involve moving Rennicke Field.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The Diocese of Nashville has an on-site columbarium at its Calvary Cemetery in Nashville, and a few more churches in the area are moving forward with.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What happens next in the final minutes of The Vanishing will leave viewers squirming in their seats and hoping against hope for our vulnerable leading man.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
By refusing to specify details of the case, the government keeps the possibility alive of changing their reasoning or their claims to have the same effect for different reasons—just as the mob changes its reasoning for killing Cinna.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Of course, the heaviest anti-Shannon edit came from Sage, who noticed everything from the register of Shannon’s voice changing to her adversary being a giant shark wearing a cute seal mask.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After connecting online and exchanging messages, the two met in person during New York Fashion Week last September.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The Bengals' social media team shared a video on X of Rodgers and Flacco exchanging a handshake and niceties after the game.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His initial coping mechanism was to throw his water bottle in frustration.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Having survived cutbacks and Covid, employees prefer taking Zoom calls at home in their sweat pants rather than coping with traffic or office politics.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Around 40 minutes later, Carreras is once again on the move before Pedri’s pass reaches Yamal to close him down.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The 2028 Olympics Earlier this year, Archer Aviation became the exclusive air taxi partner for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a move Goldstein hopes will demonstrate Midnight’s capabilities on a global stage.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican known for emphasizing public safety and fiscal restraint, made the pledge to appeal to New York City residents who may consider relocating to Long Island if the Democratic frontrunner takes City Hall, Blakeman's spokesman told the New York Post.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
For pet owner Tyler (who preferred not to use his last name), relocating from Napa to New York with his dog Bread meant jury-rigging a plan when no Bark flights were available on his travel date.—
Beth Landman,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifting. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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