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
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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
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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
J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
This season, many of China’s rising stars did exactly that — flying from Paris back to Shanghai overnight, shifting seamlessly from runway storytelling to retail strategy.
—Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
David Ellison owns Skydance Media, and the company has expressed interest in shifting CBS News to produce apolitical content, per NPR.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
If approved by voters, the new map could help Democrats gain as many as five House seats, potentially shifting the balance of power in Congress.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Even with the emotional whiplash of Edward's shifting moods, Pattinson channels a sober sincerity that's almost magnetic.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
These and other sequences, handled with anthropological curiosity rather than voyeurism, probe the shifting balance of power between giver and taker.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
These stations pay Disney hundreds of millions each year to carry ABC programming, but Disney’s pivot to streaming in 2019 has resulted in plenty of tension by shifting resources away from broadcast.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Two of the most recent strikes were carried out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, expanding the area where the military has launched attacks and shifting to where much of the cocaine is smuggled from the world’s largest producers, including Colombia.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 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
While young players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and others are fighting for better pay for their industry-shifting work, college football programs are shelling out $40 million to $50 million payouts to get their underperforming coaches to stop showing up to the office.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
This season, many of China’s rising stars did exactly that — flying from Paris back to Shanghai overnight, shifting seamlessly from runway storytelling to retail strategy.
—Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
David Ellison owns Skydance Media, and the company has expressed interest in shifting CBS News to produce apolitical content, per NPR.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
If approved by voters, the new map could help Democrats gain as many as five House seats, potentially shifting the balance of power in Congress.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Even with the emotional whiplash of Edward's shifting moods, Pattinson channels a sober sincerity that's almost magnetic.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
These and other sequences, handled with anthropological curiosity rather than voyeurism, probe the shifting balance of power between giver and taker.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
These stations pay Disney hundreds of millions each year to carry ABC programming, but Disney’s pivot to streaming in 2019 has resulted in plenty of tension by shifting resources away from broadcast.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Two of the most recent strikes were carried out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, expanding the area where the military has launched attacks and shifting to where much of the cocaine is smuggled from the world’s largest producers, including Colombia.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 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
-
As Semafor previously reported, many inside the magazine were excited by Guiducci’s arrival, believing the old Vanity Fair was moving too slowly, had fallen too far outside the zeitgeist, and had lost some of its sheen.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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Tulane University said moving research animals is routine but governed by strict confidentiality agreements to protect the animals’ safety and the parties’ proprietary information.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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An annual tradition in the legal circle, as well as his UCLA symposium sit-downs, the hourlong speech from the predominantly softspoken Ziffren clearly had a few attendees squirming in their seats near the end.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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Hungry birds looking for dozens of squirming caterpillars a day to feed their young can easily find the insects on oak trees.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Others have shuttered their services, changing the landscape of the refugee resettlement process.—
NPR,
NPR,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Game-changing extras like the GSI Outdoors Pioneer Chef’s Tools and Uco Eco 4-piece Mess Kit are worth stocking up on, while prices start at $14.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There, Chinese security officials said the two sides are again exchanging information on how smugglers alter their tactics.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The Internet of Senses extends connectivity from exchanging information to exchanging experiences.—
Mallik Tatipamula,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a rare moment of impressive hosting, Vanessa Lachey pointed out that Edmond's traumatic childhood and upbringing might result in him only focusing on the positive memories and blocking out any negative memories as a coping mechanism.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Lisa Vanderpump’s family is coping with heartbreaking news after her 28-year-old nephew was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease.—
Vivian Kwarm,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres put her own spin on rapper Cardi B's look (and dance moves) in 2019.—
Diana Pearl,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The move also represents another step in the evolving relationship between AI tools and creators and the music industry.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 4 Nov. 2025.
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