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shift

shift

 
 
pronunciation:
shIft
parts of speech:
intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
part of speech: intransitive verb
inflections: shifts, shifting, shifted
definition 1: to change position or direction, or to move from one place to another.
Bored with the lecture, the students shifted restlessly in their seats.His family shifted from town to town during the Depression.The photographer asked her to shift a little to the left.The burden of his elderly father's care shifted to him when his sister died.Public opinion seems to be shifting to the conservative side on this issue.The whole region is shifting toward solar power and away from nuclear.
synonyms:
move
similar words:
dodge, interchange, relocate, sheer, stir, swerve, switch, tack, veer
definition 2: to get along without help (usu. fol. by "for").
She has always shifted for herself.
synonyms:
cope, get along, make do, manage
similar words:
carry on, live, scrape by
definition 3: to change gears when driving a motor vehicle.
You'd better shift into a lower gear when you go down this hill.
similar words:
downshift
 
part of speech: transitive verb
definition 1: to remove or abandon and replace with another; change.
It's not always easy to shift another person's opinion.I think I'm going to shift my phone service.We shifted seats so we could see the screen better.
synonyms:
change, exchange, switch
similar words:
commute, interchange, remove, replace, rotate, substitute, trade, transpose
definition 2: to switch or move from one place to another or toward a new direction; change the position of.
Her boss shifted her to a different machine.The election has shifted the balance of power in the congress.
synonyms:
move, switch
similar words:
displace, rearrange, relocate, swing, transfer, turn
definition 3: to change (gears) from one position to another.
You'll have to learn how to shift with this new bike.
synonyms:
change, switch
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a change from one person, location, direction, condition, or thing to another.
There was a shift in the wind.The guests' arrival brought a shift in her mood.
synonyms:
change, switch
similar words:
movement, transfer, turn
definition 2: a regularly scheduled work period.
He's working the night shift this month.
definition 3: the workers on duty during a regularly scheduled period.
The morning shift came into work looking sleepy.
synonyms:
crew
definition 4: the process or an instance of changing gears when driving a motor vehicle.
Every shift of the gears made the car jerk.
definition 5: a woman's dress that has no waistline, worn without a belt.
The shift was especially popular in the early sixties.
synonyms:
chemise
definition 6: an ingenious maneuver, as to evade something or someone.
The police were fooled for a time by this clever shift.
synonyms:
dodge, feint, ruse
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: shifting (adj.)
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  car