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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shifts
Kif Leswing,terri Cullen, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
In the event of an impact, the vehicle’s safety system automatically shifts the seats into a safer rearward position while deploying the helmet airbag at the same time as the side airbags, helping to reduce the risk of head and upper-body injuries.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026
The book's cover, which PEOPLE can exclusively reveal, features the iconic moment captured in Marilyn in White — but as a lenticular image, the photo actually shifts to depict the whimsical movement of Monroe's dress.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
After the midterm elections are over, the focus gradually shifts to the next presidential election, and the incumbent president increasingly limps like a lame duck.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
By the weekend, the Libra Moon shifts attention to your money and values sector, encouraging balance around spending, earning, and self-worth.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
The film also shifts periodically to another non-human perspective – that of the gigantic observatories themselves as the donkeys clop, clop, clop their way around them.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Every so often, a piece of media comes along that quietly shifts the culture.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
However, an absent or restricted Jackson instantly shifts the advantage to Cleveland’s defense and evens the betting line.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Indeed, this slate of first-quarter strategy shifts indicates that beauty retailers are increasingly approaching wellness as an all-or-nothing bid.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
Portfolio allocation and profit-taking strategy With both metals at historic highs, the calculus shifts toward managing existing positions and considering whether to add at elevated levels.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Crews with Oklahoma City's Public Works Department plan to continue salting and plowing roads with 33 trucks along OKC snow routes in 12-hour shifts around the clock until street conditions improve.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
The discursions also make for some uneasy tonal shifts.
—Pete Tosiello, Pitchfork, 27 Jan. 2026
At the time, both bald eagles were seen on video rotating shifts, sitting on the eggs and caring for one another.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The two shifts earned him just four hundred pesos.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
This interest is supported by a robust M&A pipeline, particularly in sectors like health care, technology, and energy—where strategic consolidations are accelerating due to regulatory shifts and capital efficiency priorities.
—Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
The camera then shifts away for a moment to a snowbank.
—Kif Leswing,terri Cullen, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
In the event of an impact, the vehicle’s safety system automatically shifts the seats into a safer rearward position while deploying the helmet airbag at the same time as the side airbags, helping to reduce the risk of head and upper-body injuries.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2026
The book's cover, which PEOPLE can exclusively reveal, features the iconic moment captured in Marilyn in White — but as a lenticular image, the photo actually shifts to depict the whimsical movement of Monroe's dress.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
After the midterm elections are over, the focus gradually shifts to the next presidential election, and the incumbent president increasingly limps like a lame duck.
—Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
By the weekend, the Libra Moon shifts attention to your money and values sector, encouraging balance around spending, earning, and self-worth.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
The film also shifts periodically to another non-human perspective – that of the gigantic observatories themselves as the donkeys clop, clop, clop their way around them.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Every so often, a piece of media comes along that quietly shifts the culture.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
However, an absent or restricted Jackson instantly shifts the advantage to Cleveland’s defense and evens the betting line.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Noun
His bleak existence shifts when a fight with a classmate is accidentally streamed online and goes viral.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Indeed, this slate of first-quarter strategy shifts indicates that beauty retailers are increasingly approaching wellness as an all-or-nothing bid.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
Portfolio allocation and profit-taking strategy With both metals at historic highs, the calculus shifts toward managing existing positions and considering whether to add at elevated levels.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Crews with Oklahoma City's Public Works Department plan to continue salting and plowing roads with 33 trucks along OKC snow routes in 12-hour shifts around the clock until street conditions improve.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
The discursions also make for some uneasy tonal shifts.
—Pete Tosiello, Pitchfork, 27 Jan. 2026
At the time, both bald eagles were seen on video rotating shifts, sitting on the eggs and caring for one another.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The two shifts earned him just four hundred pesos.
—Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
This interest is supported by a robust M&A pipeline, particularly in sectors like health care, technology, and energy—where strategic consolidations are accelerating due to regulatory shifts and capital efficiency priorities.
—Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifts
Verb
-
In the romantic drama (which won a special jury award for debut feature), physical therapist Audrey (Moon Choi) moves back home to help her mother recover after a car accident.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Israel says the crossing is scheduled to open Monday as its ceasefire with Hamas moves ahead.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 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
-
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the National University of Singapore now report a method that changes those constraints.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
That fundamentally changes the risk profile of building a business alone.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In September 2025, Puma and Nouchi released the Mostro Sock, an ankle-high version that swaps the signature strap for a sock profile while keeping the spiked rubber sole and textured tread.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Kelly swaps out the anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus Rex for an orange unicorn with a yellow mane and a purple tummy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
How a canine copes with the holidays will depend on their personality, but owners should consider using a crate, blocking access to certain rooms, or keeping them on a leash.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Dec. 2025
-
The 10-2 vote in favor of the easier policy came as the Fed copes with an absence of timely economic data due to the four-week-old government shutdown.—
Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Being Different means standing apart - leading on innovation and setting trends.—
Steven Wolfe Pereira,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
As part of the litigation, Snyder-Hill and his co-plaintiffs have sought to depose Wexner and recently won court approval to subpoena him through alternative means after his attorney refused to accept service and other efforts proved futile.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Once markets started moving lower, thin liquidity intensified such price movements, according to several analysts who provided input for this article.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed amid mostly modest movements in Europe following some sharper swings in Asia.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions trade group relocates from Alexandria, Virginia, to Orlando.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
After the family relocates to Connecticut from New York, Delia can’t help but turn their quaint, historical home into a gaudy spectacle full of terrible, modern-gothic artwork.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifts. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
