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
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
The charter also shifts ACIP’s mission in subtle but important ways, according to Richard Hughes, the AAP’s attorney.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
The trip feels oddly smooth, as the robotaxi cleanly shifts lanes and slows down to avoid hitting other vehicles and bicycles on the road.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 26 Mar. 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
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
The charter also shifts ACIP’s mission in subtle but important ways, according to Richard Hughes, the AAP’s attorney.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
The trip feels oddly smooth, as the robotaxi cleanly shifts lanes and slows down to avoid hitting other vehicles and bicycles on the road.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 26 Mar. 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
-
Carr is a natural athlete who moves like a great shortstop, and his ability to find cleaner throwing air out of the pocket — and his ability to make throws from multiple arm slots — is special.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As the Moon moves through your 9th House of Learning, conversations shape direction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 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
-
Naming one boundary or expectation changes the tone.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This is where Physical AI changes the equation.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Peet’s character swaps out baggy pants and an oversized sweatshirt for relaxed joggers (similar to this pair at Amazon) and a structured tunic-length pullover like this option from Quince.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 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
-
One chapter closes, another opens The destruction of several Russian Kamov Ka-52s using drones doesn’t signal the end of the attack helicopter by any means.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Still, this isn’t a bad group by any means, and the team could easily go into the season with Barmore, Durden, Taylor, Williams and Farmer/Gregory.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Last year, the government constrained the movements of media within the building, designating certain wings of the Casa Rosada off limits and capping attendance at news briefings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In the United States, some movements effectively created awareness through the use of hashtags and user posts.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
That relocates the blame in the mother.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifts. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
