1
as in moves
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in twitches
to change one's position
she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changes
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 swaps
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 copes
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
desperate shifts to stave off financial disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in movements
the act or an instance of changing position
made a small shift to the left to make more room on the bench
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shifts
Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The Goldrich, added Kean, shifts the landscape from darkness to light.
—Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
But over time, therapy often shifts.
—Ana Jarzin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
The victory evens the best-of-seven first-round playoff series as it shifts to Anaheim for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday at Honda Center.
—Jason Hills, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Whether the exhibition shifts attention back to the art—and away from the circumstances that produced it—will become clearer when the Biennale opens next month.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Amid these changes, former directors and national leaders in science expressed concern about the trajectory of the agency and its independence as the administration shifts its funding priorities.
—Fiona Bork, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2026
But just as quickly, the moment shifts.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
By nudging or priming people with these human-like cues, then that shifts us more into the warmth dimension.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
In Cambodia, worker groups spoke of furloughs, cut shifts and job losses.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026
Many borrowers are in limbo as the Education Department shifts oversight to the Treasury Department.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
The conversation shifts into a broader reflection on womanhood.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Now that the 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, the Jets’ focus shifts to Breece Hall and his contract situation.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Riders say lunch and dinner shifts perform best.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
So instead of one rigid interaction style, Alexa+ shifts its behavior depending on the task.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The series shifts to Minnesota on Wednesday night.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
Installed within the Westchester Regional Library, a Brutalist structure defined by raw concrete and geometric weight, the exhibition also shifts the context in which the work is encountered.
—Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The Goldrich, added Kean, shifts the landscape from darkness to light.
—Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
But over time, therapy often shifts.
—Ana Jarzin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
The victory evens the best-of-seven first-round playoff series as it shifts to Anaheim for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday at Honda Center.
—Jason Hills, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Whether the exhibition shifts attention back to the art—and away from the circumstances that produced it—will become clearer when the Biennale opens next month.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Amid these changes, former directors and national leaders in science expressed concern about the trajectory of the agency and its independence as the administration shifts its funding priorities.
—Fiona Bork, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2026
But just as quickly, the moment shifts.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
By nudging or priming people with these human-like cues, then that shifts us more into the warmth dimension.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
And now that pressure shifts squarely onto Detroit.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
In Cambodia, worker groups spoke of furloughs, cut shifts and job losses.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026
Many borrowers are in limbo as the Education Department shifts oversight to the Treasury Department.
—Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
The conversation shifts into a broader reflection on womanhood.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Now that the 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, the Jets’ focus shifts to Breece Hall and his contract situation.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Riders say lunch and dinner shifts perform best.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
So instead of one rigid interaction style, Alexa+ shifts its behavior depending on the task.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The series shifts to Minnesota on Wednesday night.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifts
Verb
-
The Moon moves through your 7th House of Partnership, making interactions more direct and emotionally charged in subtle ways.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Both days could produce thunderstorms but Thursday has the higher likelihood of storms as the front moves through.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Well, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) convened recently to share ideas on how to enhance the sport of college football, along with other conversations about the current landscape of a profession that changes on what feels like a weekly basis.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
Now that Princess Eugenie has announced her new pregnancy, there have been questions about how this new baby changes the narrative around the royal, particularly considering the scandal surrounding both her parents.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Tom Holland swaps his padel for a HexClad pan while hosting his 2nd Annual Bero Padel Classic on April 29 in Los Angeles.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
-
The Philips 1000 Series Touchscreen Key-free Electronic Deadbolt swaps a standard deadbolt with no wiring required.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Our awkward hero copes with grief through humor while navigating relationships with her type-A sister (Sian Clifford), her nasty stepmother (Olivia Colman), and, in season 2, a hot priest (Andrew Scott).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
-
New secrets about the city’s origins arise, and the social structure struggles as the bunker copes with fallout from last season.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The sudden cancellations effectively stranded hundreds of travelers, who were left scrambling for alternative means of transportation.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
-
Implementing mass timber at scale means navigating property lines and managing infrastructure boundaries between private owners.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Like the republican project itself, the artistic movements of both Europe and America were a mashup of mutual influences.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The dogs [which carried the same genetic defect for LCA as humans] had the funny eye movements.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Enter Hathaway as Rebecca, the new, sophisticated head psychologist who relocates from the city and quickly sparks a connection with the young woman that may or may not be flirtatious.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Under the bill, state incentives would be clawed back if a team relocates its stadium, headquarters or training facility outside of Missouri.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifts. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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