English-English Dictionary

Meaning of the word shift in English

What does shift mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

shift

US /ʃɪft/
UK /ʃɪft/
"shift" picture

Noun

1.

a slight change in position, direction, or tendency

Example:
•
There has been a significant shift in public opinion.
•
The tectonic plates caused a sudden shift in the earth's crust.
Synonym:
changealterationvariationmovementdisplacement
2.

a period of time during which a person works

Example:
•
She works the night shift at the hospital.
•
My shift starts at 8 AM tomorrow.
Synonym:
tourspellturnwatchduty
3.

a key on a keyboard that, when pressed, changes the case of letters or gives access to other functions

Example:
•
Press the Shift key to type in capital letters.
•
Hold down Shift while clicking to select multiple items.

Verb

1.

to move or cause to move from one place or position to another, especially over a small distance

Example:
•
Can you help me shift this heavy box?
•
The wind caused the sand dunes to shift.
Synonym:
moverelocaterepositiontransferdisplace
2.

to change the gears in a vehicle

Example:
•
He had to shift down to a lower gear to climb the steep hill.
•
Remember to shift gears smoothly when driving.
Synonym:
change gearsgear
3.

to change or cause to change from one to another

Example:
•
The conversation suddenly shifted to politics.
•
His mood can shift quickly from happy to sad.
Synonym:
changealtertransformconvertswitch
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Related Word:
shift dressscene-shiftingstick shift