shifts 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of shift
1
2
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

shifts

2 of 2

noun

plural of shift

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
Verb
That surge in demand should boost Marvell's shares as the company increasingly shifts its focus to CXL products, Arcuri added. Hugh Leask,fred Imbert,justina Lee, CNBC, 28 June 2026 However, curators say that framing fans as fine art intentionally shifts the perception of what a world-class museum can present. La'tasha Givens, CBS News, 24 June 2026 This pivotal 106th career triumph dramatically shifts the narrative, proving Hamilton remains a serious championship contender. Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The plan also shifts $79 million in sales tax revenue from candy, soft drinks and grooming products — money that normally funds capital construction — into the operating budget. Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026 That also shifts Jonah Savaiinaea from left guard to right guard going into his second season. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 15 June 2026 That balance shifts some the farther out Nielsen measures — after 28 and 35 days, about half of the top shows are exclusive to streaming services (not including sports). Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 The ordinance shifts the burden in eviction cases. Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 12 June 2026 Yet what makes the storytelling so unique is how the film shifts perspectives. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 5 June 2026
Noun
Michael Tippett, a climate scientist at Columbia University who studies the ties between El Niño and weather patterns, said that on average, there is no strong link between El Niño and shifts in summer weather patterns over the US and Europe. Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026 But thanks to changing temperatures, animal migration, and shifts in land use, scientists say tick territory is expanding. Hannah Chinn, NPR, 30 June 2026 By analyzing frequency shifts caused by the Doppler effect, researchers can measure plasma motion at multiple locations simultaneously. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026 Contrasted with the floor’s dark wood and furnishings’ dark fabric, the wall covering forever shifts with window light. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 The pivot shows how Beijing’s centralized control lets the government overhaul its system in response to economic and technological shifts, whereas critics bemoan the West’s institutional inertia. J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 30 June 2026 And in the six years since the pandemic forced California and other employers to embrace telework, Sacramento’s urban core, home to many of the state’s office buildings, has undergone fundamental shifts. Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 Also, one of the big themes of Homeric scholarship over the past few decades has been the flexibility of the narrative perspectives in the original poems and the subtlety of the narrative shifts. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026 Cancel unused subscriptions, negotiate recurring bills, pick up extra shifts or sell unused items around your home. Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifts
Verb
  • Your mind takes you on an adventure as Jupiter moves into Leo today.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 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
  • Both her steel hull and aluminum superstructure are finished in a custom warm gray hue with a subtle pearlescent quality that changes with light.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 June 2026
  • After that 18-month trial, patients could lose access to Medicare coverage for GLP-1s used for weight loss unless the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issues an extension or Congress changes the law, according to Cubanski.
    Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • In the new Prime Video series, Lexi Minetree plays the iconic character, who must adapt to a new high school as her family swaps Bel-Air for dreary Seattle.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • This summery twist on the decadent Italian dessert swaps out espresso and marsala for homemade berry syrup and fruit liqueur.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect.
    Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026
  • Gemini copes through logic and distraction, while Pisces feels everything at once.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • But that may also make Iranian oil less attractive to China, which has been buying it at a discount because Iran under sanctions has few other means to sell.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • None of these senior members of this genocidal regime are good guys, by any means.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • For the superstar whose private jet is tracked, whose every appearance is documented and whose movements become global headlines within minutes, an arena transformed into a private world may be the closest thing to privacy that money can buy.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Over a half-century ago, the robotic figures of Pirates were a symbol of Disneyland’s technological ambitions, dazzling audiences with characterized but lifelike movements.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The film stars young newcomer Eylul Guven as Sasha in childhood, whose family relocates to a new home on Vancouver Island at the start of the film.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 29 June 2026
  • Ruben’s modern twist on Northanger focused on a young American literature teacher named Catherine Winslet, who relocates to Bath to ghostwrite the memoirs of her eccentric idol, Mrs Daftwood.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifts. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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