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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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
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5
as in coping
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shifting
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Land borders dispute since 1948 The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which led to the mass displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians and a subsequent Arab-Israeli war in 1948, led to a further shifting of borders in the region.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
At our newest campus in Haverhill, Massachusetts, for example students will train in a 25,000-square-foot facility equipped with interactive shifting simulation and a new curriculum that focuses on hands-on learning from day one.
—Samantha Greenberg, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
As the breeze moves them, the shifting reflections can further repel insects.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Consumer advocates and some regulatory analysts have raised concerns that the separate rate proposal is not strong enough to fully protect non-data center customers from cost shifting related to new energy projects.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The shifting perspective is the magic of the show.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The shifting explanations, the defense argues, suggest the decision may have been arbitrary.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Is shape-shifting is in her DNA?
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
The real estate industry continues to evolve rapidly through technology and shifting markets.
—James Nelson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Hand-picked by Trump in January when expectations pointed to stabilizing growth and cooler inflation, Warsh now takes the reins of an economy that is shifting under the weight of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
—Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The debate comes after weeks of tense exchanges and shifting poll numbers.
—James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Growing challenges to diverse slates Amid shifting political winds, the proliferation of diverse slate policies quickly generated backlash.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 15 May 2026
But that narrative is shifting.
—Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Extra servos in the shoulders let the arms swing widely, while the leg joints allow crouching and shifting positions.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
Many physicists suspect the weird shape-shifting behavior of neutrinos might have played a key role in this cosmic conundrum.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
Noun
The conventions of American journalism don’t serve this shifting, multi-sided reality well.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Land borders dispute since 1948 The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which led to the mass displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians and a subsequent Arab-Israeli war in 1948, led to a further shifting of borders in the region.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026
At our newest campus in Haverhill, Massachusetts, for example students will train in a 25,000-square-foot facility equipped with interactive shifting simulation and a new curriculum that focuses on hands-on learning from day one.
—Samantha Greenberg, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
As the breeze moves them, the shifting reflections can further repel insects.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026
Consumer advocates and some regulatory analysts have raised concerns that the separate rate proposal is not strong enough to fully protect non-data center customers from cost shifting related to new energy projects.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The shifting perspective is the magic of the show.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
The shifting explanations, the defense argues, suggest the decision may have been arbitrary.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Is shape-shifting is in her DNA?
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Trump has been threatening for weeks that the ceasefire reached in mid-April could end if Iran does not make a deal, with shifting parameters for striking such an agreement.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
The real estate industry continues to evolve rapidly through technology and shifting markets.
—James Nelson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Hand-picked by Trump in January when expectations pointed to stabilizing growth and cooler inflation, Warsh now takes the reins of an economy that is shifting under the weight of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
—Lucy Bayly, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The debate comes after weeks of tense exchanges and shifting poll numbers.
—James Ward, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Growing challenges to diverse slates Amid shifting political winds, the proliferation of diverse slate policies quickly generated backlash.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 15 May 2026
But that narrative is shifting.
—Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Extra servos in the shoulders let the arms swing widely, while the leg joints allow crouching and shifting positions.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
Many physicists suspect the weird shape-shifting behavior of neutrinos might have played a key role in this cosmic conundrum.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifting
Noun
-
Your emotions may not have synced up with your recent identity shifts.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
The narrative shifts when Rang learns that Messi is to play a friendly match in Mumbai, thousands of kilometers from his village, sparking an unlikely road trip for boy and dog.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Satyanarayanan thinks that the cost of moving workloads around, as well as other expenses such as repairs, may be higher than Span is anticipating—and that these factors will determine whether XFRA scales or remains a clever concept.—
Vanessa Bates Ramirez,
Scientific American,
22 May 2026
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But the measure doesn’t prevent search committees from submitting a single name as a finalist, essentially moving the entire search process behind closed doors.—
Gray Rohrer,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The veterans, of course, are terrific with one later episode set on a plane that finds Mulligan in top squirming form.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Like him, Rue is squirming under Laurie’s thumb, anxious to get out.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The menu is ever changing, always encompassing new flavors as the seasons change.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
At the same time, your minds and bodies are changing.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Co-stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Sara Giraudeau and Mathilde Roehrich could be seen exchanging hugs and the plaudits continued.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
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Meanwhile, a broadcast camera showed his Dodgers teammates Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski and Tommy Edman exchanging glances and trying to stifle laughter at their catcher’s reaction.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Remember that every child is different, so choose coping techniques that might work with their personality and temperament.—
Corinne Schuman,
Parents,
22 May 2026
-
On the surface, the system appears to be coping.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
In the course of the series, Jimmy’s office moves from Century City — 1900 Avenue of the Stars — to the American Cement Building in MacArthur Park (and all that that implies).—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
The move made Arctos the only firm approved to invest in all five major American men’s leagues.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Mallory Brooks, a photographer, moved into one of the units 10 years ago after relocating from Florida.—
Stacker,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
-
Once a popular destination for workers and businesses relocating, the region is now experiencing domestic outmigration.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifting. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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