Meaning of 'shift'

noun

the act of changing one thing or position for another

Example: "The shift from hunting and gathering to an agricultural based society was an important step on the road to modern organized production. "

Synonyms: switch

noun

the act of moving from one place to another

Example: "The student's constant shifts disrupted the class."

Synonyms: shifting

noun

a loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist

Synonyms: sack chemise

noun

a woman's sleeveless undergarment

Synonyms: slip

noun

the key on the typewriter keyboard that shifts from lower-case letters to upper-case letters

Example: "MY SHIFT BUTTON IS BROKEN AND NOW EVERYONE THINKS I AM YELLING AT THEM. "

Synonyms: shift key

noun

a qualitative change

Synonyms: transformation transmutation

noun

an event in which something is displaced without rotation

Synonyms: displacement

noun

a crew of workers who work for a specific period of time

Example: "No one wanted to be on the overnight shift, even though it paid better. "

noun

(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other

Synonyms: fault

noun

the time period during which you are at work

Synonyms: work shift duty period

verb

make a shift in or exchange of

Synonyms: change over

verb

move and exchange for another

Example: "shift the date for our class reunion"

verb

lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Synonyms: switch

verb

change gears

Example: "You have to shift down when you go up a steep hill."

verb

move from one setting or context to another

Example: "shift the emphasis"

verb

change in quality

Example: "The speaker's tone shifted as the speech turned to more serious matters."

verb

change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change

Example: "Grimm showed how the consonants shifted"

verb

use a shift key on a keyboard

Example: "i could not shift so all my letters are written in lower case."

verb

move abruptly

Synonyms: pitch

verb

change place or direction

Synonyms: reposition dislodge

verb

move sideways or in an unsteady way

Synonyms: careen tilt wobble

verb

move very slightly

Example: "I shifted in my seat."

Synonyms: stir agitate budge

verb

move around

Synonyms: transfer