Synonyms of shifting

shifting 1 of 2

noun

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

• shift
• move
• movement
• relocation
• motion
• stirring
• flapping
• stir
• twitching
• migration
• mobility
• dislocation
• locomotion
• motility
• waving
• squirming
• squirm
• fiddling
• writhing
• fidgeting
• wriggling
• motivity
• flailing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inertia
• immobility
• motionlessness
• stop
• termination
• stillness
• cessation
• finish
• pause
• halt
• lapse
• expiration
• ending
• discontinuance
• shutdown
• stoppage
• inertness
• shutoff
• surcease

shifting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shift

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

• moving
• relocating
• removing
• transferring
• transporting
• disturbing
• displacing
• repositioning
• transposing
• replacing
• hauling
• conveying
• carrying
• dislocating
• transmitting
• driving
• budging
• altering
• lugging
• transplanting
• modifying
• superseding
• supplanting
• carting
• varying
• toting
• revising
• reworking
• bearing
• remaking
• remodeling
• revamping
• redoing
• making over
• refashioning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• securing
• stabilizing
• setting
• fixing
• anchoring
• freezing
• mooring
• embedding
• rooting
• lodging
• implanting
• entrenching
• ingraining

2

as in squirming

to change one's position

she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview

Synonyms & Similar Words

• moving
• squirming
• twitching
• stirring
• fidgeting
• locomoting
• wiggling
• tossing
• budging
• fiddling
• writhing
• jiggling
• wriggling
• rousing
• squiggling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• freezing
• remaining
• staying
• hanging around
• stabilizing
• stilling
• sticking around
• tarrying

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

• changing
• varying
• fluctuating
• mutating
• improving
• snapping
• morphing
• transmuting
• deteriorating
• metamorphosing
• worsening
• bettering
• vacillating
• turning around
• wavering
• seesawing
• teetering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stabilizing
• plateauing

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

• exchanging
• swapping
• changing
• trading
• substituting
• switching
• commuting
• replacing
• interchanging
• displacing
• superseding
• reciprocating
• yielding
• surrendering
• ceding
• handing over

5

as in coping

to meet one's day-to-day needs

left the others to shift for themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coping
• doing
• managing
• surviving
• getting along
• making ends meet
• faring
• getting on
• getting by
• making do
• affording
• making out
• making shift
• scrounging
• fending for oneself
• contriving
• carrying on
• scraping (by or through)
• squeezing
• lasting
• scraping (out)
• swinging
• wringing
• wresting
• eking out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• failing
• collapsing
• floundering
• declining
• falling short
• waning
• slumping
• fizzling
• giving up
• petering (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shifting

Noun

The main reason is that large, widening cracks can signal structural shifting or underlying damage that DIY caulk cannot address. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026

Most EVs have a single-speed transmission, which means there’s no shifting between multiple gears. — Lauren Swift, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Transmission fluid lubricates and cools gears for smooth shifting. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

The potential shifting of styles is no problem for Velasquez, who has danced under Cunningham and Binda and their successors Seiwert and Krutzkamp in her time in Sacramento. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

In part, this shifting of possession is forced by Brighton, whose out-of-possession approach is much more aggressive. — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

The Ultra also pairs an eight-speed Shimano drivetrain with EDS electronic shifting. — New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026

Engineering experts at Sound Transit and WSDOT had to solve three primary technical hurdles to safely operate 600,000-pound trains across a shifting, floating concrete bridge. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

What sets it apart is its use of a Shimano Cues Di2, one of the component maker’s low-end electronic shifting systems. — ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Upworthy, which originally gained viral fame thanks to its positive, uplifting articles and photo galleries before shifting toward a more social-first content strategy after it was sold to Good Worldwide, is launching a studio. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Heightened immigration enforcement, data privacy concerns and shifting policies at present can augment existing barriers to higher education and financial aid for these groups, according to researchers. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Condor said that Spire is not concerned about finding rides to orbit, and her confidence is indicative of Spire’s long history in the launch industry and past experience weathering a rapidly shifting market. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

The shape gives my fingers a natural place to settle, providing a secure grip when shifting between detailed lines and broad strokes. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

That sentiment is shifting somewhat amid rising rates and tightening monetary policy, with some investors becoming more cautious. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Managing unpredictability against the shifting backdrop of solution delivery develops new executive muscle. — Mike Trkay, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The announcements came at Meta Connect 2026 as the company continues shifting its wearable strategy toward glasses and its personal AI agent, Muse. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026

Then came a quieter reaction—people shifting in their seats, glancing at one another, going still in a way that had nothing to do with boredom. — Julian De Freitas, Harvard Business Review, 24 Sep. 2026