shift

SaySHIFT/ʃɪft/

Pluralshifts

Verbshifts, shifting, shifted

36 meanings of shift

Practice

1
a changenouncountable or uncountable
A slight movement or change; the act of moving from one position or state to another.
A subtle shift in her expression gave away her disappointment.
The poll recorded a measurable shift toward younger candidates.
UsageUsually a shift in something: a shift in opinion; also a shift toward or away from.
Similarchange, swing, movement, move
Note
It is an old use. Henry Wotton, writing around 1620–1626, went to Oxford "not merely for shift of air." In that phrase, shift simply means change, and it takes no article at all.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
The noun meaning ‘change’ is old, occurring in Wotton's seventeenth-century letter. fadedpage.com
Wotton wrote the quoted letter within approximately 1620–1626; the scholarly edition dates it tentatively to September 1625. fadedpage.com
Henry Wotton described going to Oxford using the exact words ‘not merely for shift of air.’ fadedpage.com
In this historical example, ‘shift’ means ‘change’ and occurs without an article. en.wiktionary.org
2
work hoursnouncountable or uncountable
A group of workers scheduled together, or the stretch of working time they cover.
Nurses on the overnight shift handle most of the emergencies.
The factory runs three shifts a day to meet demand.
UsageYou work or do a shift: on the night shift, work shifts, run three shifts a day.
Similarwatch, crew
Note
The working sense began with the changeover itself, one crew replacing another. It came to mean the crew, or the hours they cover.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
The working sense developed from a change of workers to the group of workers or their working period. en.wiktionary.org
3
verbfigurativelyintransitivereflexive
To move or change from one position, place, direction, or state to another; to change in form, character, or kind.
Public opinion shifted sharply after the scandal broke.
Over the years, attitudes shift as new generations grow up.
UsageOften shift to or toward something; people shift in their seats.
Similarchange, move, swing, switch, alter
Note
Here the movement is the subject's own, and the reflexive form adds a twist: to shift yourself is to rouse yourself into action. In "We were hoping he could shift himself to take care of the problem, but he couldn't be shifted," moving becomes getting someone to act. The passive says he would not budge.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
The quoted sentence appears verbatim as an unattributed usage example in Wiktionary. en.wiktionary.org
4
move somethingverbfigurativelytransitive
To move something from one place to another, or to redistribute it.
The government shifted funding away from rural clinics.
Coaches shift players between positions to find the best fit.
UsageShift something to or away from a place: shift funding away from clinics. Set phrase: shift the blame.
Similarmove, transfer, switch, redirect
5
gear systemnounUScountable or uncountable
The mechanism a driver uses to change gears in a motor vehicle; a gearshift.
The mechanic replaced the worn shift in the old pickup.
A loose shift can make changing gears difficult on the highway.
UsageMost often in stick shift.
Similargearstick, lever
6
change gearsverbintransitive
To change gears in a motor vehicle.
New drivers often forget to shift when slowing for a turn.
She shifted down to second as the road grew steep.
UsageShift into a gear, or shift up or down: she shifted down to second.
Similarchange
7
move houseverbIndiaintransitive
To change one's residence; to leave one place and go to live elsewhere.
After the wedding they shifted to a cottage by the coast.
Families often shift when the children outgrow the house.
UsageUsually shift to a new place: they shifted to a cottage. Elsewhere, move is the usual word.
Similarmove, relocate
8
verbslangIrelandtransitive
To make out with someone, kissing and caressing them sexually.
Did you shift him after the disco, or are the girls making it all up?
Half our year shifted someone at the debs, and the whole school knew by Monday.
UsageTakes the person as object: shift someone, where others say make out with. Keep it among friends.
Similarsnog, kiss
Note
Sally Rooney's Normal People (2018) catches it in the banter of friends: "Did you shift her?"
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
Sally Rooney wrote Normal People. en.wikipedia.org
Normal People was first published in 2018. marul.ffst.hr
The exact question occurs in dialogue among Connell's friends; Eric says it to Connell. marul.ffst.hr

Less common meanings

9
verbintransitive
To press the Shift key or lever on a keyboard or typewriter so as to type capital letters or special characters.
On an old typewriter, you had to shift each time you wanted a capital letter.
Typing a password full of symbols means you have to shift several times.
10
loose dressnouncountable or uncountable
A simple, loose-fitting dress that hangs straight from the shoulders.
The boutique sold a sleeveless shift in three pastel colors.
She slipped a gray wool shift over her blouse for the office.
UsageOften a shift dress.
11
baseballnouncountable or uncountable
A defensive realignment in baseball in which infielders move toward the side of the field where the batter is most likely to hit.
The manager ordered a shift, stacking three infielders on the right side.
Hitting against the shift, he poked the ball into the open left side.
UsageTeams use a shift against a hitter. Batters hit against the shift.
Note
Used alone, the word normally means the infield version, with fielders moved toward the side where the hitter tends to drive the ball.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
An infield shift places more fielders on one side of the field. mlb.com
12
slip (underwear)nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
A woman's dress-length undergarment worn beneath dresses or skirts; a slip or chemise.
Beneath her gown she wore only a thin cotton shift.
Some wear black shifts and flesh-coloured stockings; some with curly hair, dyed yellow, are dressed like little girls in short muslin frocks.
1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence
Similarslip, chemise
Note
A garment word now kept for the past. Henry Fielding's Tom Jones (1749) shows Molly Seagrim in a shift "somewhat of the coarsest," and Somerset Maugham still writes of black shifts in The Moon and Sixpence (1919). In historical writing it means the layer beneath the dress. For a garment worn on its own today, the word is the loose straight dress.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
Henry Fielding wrote Tom Jones, first published in 1749. en.wikisource.org
The novel's narrator describes Molly Seagrim wearing a shift that was "somewhat of the coarsest." gutenberg.org
Somerset Maugham wrote The Moon and Sixpence, first published in 1919. openlibrary.org
The Moon and Sixpence contains a narrative description of women wearing black shifts. gutenberg.org
13
get rid ofverbcolloquialUKtransitive
To dispose of or remove something, often by selling or clearing it away.
They slashed prices to shift unsold stock before the new season.
I've had this cough for three weeks and I just can't shift it.
UsageCommon with stock and illnesses: shift unsold stock, can't shift a cold.
Similarclear, sell, move, offload, unload
14
hurryverbintransitive
To hurry or move quickly from one place to another.
You'll have to shift if you want to catch the last train.
That little dog can really shift when it spots a squirrel.
UsageOften used with can or have to: you'll have to shift; that car can really shift.
Similarhurry, rush, hustle, move
Oppositedawdle
Note
Said of people, shift means hurry, often as advice: "If you shift, you might make the 2:19." Said of machines, it praises speed. Paul Bigland, writing in Rail in 2020, exclaims "boy, can those trains shift under the wires."
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Paul Bigland's quoted passage appeared in Rail in 2020. en.wiktionary.org
Bigland's passage contains the exact words "boy, can those trains shift under the wires." en.wiktionary.org
15
kissnounslangIrelanduncountable
The act of kissing someone passionately.
He was hoping for a shift by the end of the night out.
Everyone at the debs saw her getting the shift off Ciarán in the middle of the dance floor.
UsageUsually with the: get the shift, hoping for the shift.
Similarsnog, kiss, smooch
Note
Colin Walsh's Kala (2023) pairs the noun with its verb in two short sentences, "You were getting the shift. Ye were shifting," so a couple doing it are shifting too.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
Colin Walsh wrote Kala, first published in 2023; the publisher dates the original hardback to 6 July 2023. atlantic-books.co.uk
Kala contains the two quoted sentences exactly, pairing the noun shift with the verb shifting. en.wiktionary.org
16
noun
In computing, a control code or character that switches between different character sets, or one use of such a code.
17
noun
A bitwise operation that moves the binary digits of a value left or right by a given number of positions.
18
verb
To move all the digits of a binary number to the left or right.
19
verb
In programming, to take the leading element off an array.
20
noun
In virology, an abrupt, major change in a virus, chiefly influenza A, when gene segments from two strains combine to form a new subtype.
21
verbarchaic
To resort to indirect or evasive methods; to contrive or manage by craft.
But this I dare auow of all those Schoole-men, that though they were exceeding wittie, yet they better teach all their Followers to shift, then to resolue, by their distinctions.
1614, Walter Raleigh, The Historie of the World
22
verb
Of a violinist or other string player, to move the left hand along the fingerboard from one position to another, in either direction.
23
noundated
In violin playing, any position of the left hand other than the one nearest the nut.
24
nounarchaic
A move or beginning made toward accomplishing something.
25
noun
In construction, the extent or arrangement of the overlap between planks, bricks, or stones laid in courses so that their joints do not align.
26
noun
A period during which one's consciousness resides in another reality, usually reached through meditation or similar means.
27
verb
To use meditation or other methods to change the reality in which one's consciousness resides.
28
nounobsolete
A part given to each person when something is split up.
29
nounarchaic
A fallback plan or makeshift measure turned to once normal approaches have failed.
If I get down, and do not break my limbs, I'll find a thousand shifts to get away: As good to die and go, as die and stay.
c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”
30
nounarchaic
A sly scheme meant to deceive or evade.
Reduced to pitiable shifts.
1856, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Oliver Goldsmith”
31
noun
In mining, a place where a seam of coal or ore is broken and pushed out of line.
32
verbobsolete
To swap one's garments, especially underwear, for others, or to do the same for another person.
33
verbobsolete
To dress another person in clean garments, at times just fresh undergarments.
34
verbarchaic
To manage somehow with whatever means are available, as in shift for oneself.
35
verbslangNigeria
To take something or someone away unlawfully, by theft or abduction.
36
verb
In video games, to make a character duck low, typically by holding down the Shift key.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of shift apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Middle English schyft is the source of the noun, which is related to German Schicht ("layer, shift"). The verb goes back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut, divide, separate," which passed through Proto-Germanic to Old English sċiftan ("to divide, separate, arrange") and then Middle English schiften. Related words include Dutch schiften ("to sort") and Swedish skifta ("to change").