shifting 1 of 2

noun

as in shift
the act or an instance of changing position the shifting of the toys to the front of the display was a direct result of their sudden popularity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shifting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of shift
1
as in moving
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in squirming
to change one's position she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in changing
to pass from one form, state, or level to another she watched the aurora in fascination as its colors shifted from green to blue

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in exchanging
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 coping
to meet one's day-to-day needs left the others to shift for themselves

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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 shifting
Noun
The main reason is that large, widening cracks can signal structural shifting or underlying damage that DIY caulk cannot address. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026 Most EVs have a single-speed transmission, which means there’s no shifting between multiple gears. — Lauren Swift, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Transmission fluid lubricates and cools gears for smooth shifting. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 The potential shifting of styles is no problem for Velasquez, who has danced under Cunningham and Binda and their successors Seiwert and Krutzkamp in her time in Sacramento. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026 In part, this shifting of possession is forced by Brighton, whose out-of-possession approach is much more aggressive. — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The Ultra also pairs an eight-speed Shimano drivetrain with EDS electronic shifting. — New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026 Engineering experts at Sound Transit and WSDOT had to solve three primary technical hurdles to safely operate 600,000-pound trains across a shifting, floating concrete bridge. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 What sets it apart is its use of a Shimano Cues Di2, one of the component maker’s low-end electronic shifting systems. — ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
Results from consumer goods and aviation majors typically offer an early read on shifting fuel expenses, freight costs, and end consumer demand. — CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 Climate volatility, shifting regulatory pressures and economic uncertainty are rapidly transforming cotton farming from a traditional agricultural endeavor into a complex, high-stakes business challenge. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 Oral storytelling, shifting perspectives and stories that move between past, present and future can all find an expressive counterpart in animation. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Its heightened visual style moves confidently between romance, fantasy and black comedy, shifting tone without settling neatly into any one genre. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 The front will pass through, shifting winds from the southwest to the north, the National Weather Service said. — Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 Upworthy, which originally gained viral fame thanks to its positive, uplifting articles and photo galleries before shifting toward a more social-first content strategy after it was sold to Good Worldwide, is launching a studio. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026 Heightened immigration enforcement, data privacy concerns and shifting policies at present can augment existing barriers to higher education and financial aid for these groups, according to researchers. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Condor said that Spire is not concerned about finding rides to orbit, and her confidence is indicative of Spire’s long history in the launch industry and past experience weathering a rapidly shifting market. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifting
  1. shift
  2. moving
  3. squirming
  4. changing
  5. exchanging
  6. coping
  7. move
  8. relocating
Noun
  • The development marks an important shift in the way modern militaries could defend against the growing threat posed by inexpensive drones.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike some abrupt management shifts at theaters, Brätt is not inheriting a season that someone else put together.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of shift
Verb
  • The seconds-long loop consists of a purple image of a tank silhouette moving rapidly across the picture plane and patterned with what resemble dithered approximations of analog video interference.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The planning is meant to create flexibility for the president and commanders overseeing the war, these people said, by moving up to three aircraft carriers and their escort ships into the region in November.
    — Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of moving
Verb
  • The preview ends with a heart-swelling image of Osbourne smiling and squirming with joy in his throne.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The kitten appears to be squirming in his alleged captor’s arms in surveillance footage of the incident, which Innab reviewed after Jabal’s disappearance.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of squirming
Verb
  • Its ability to perform different missions allows commanders to employ the weapon against changing threats.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Online networks’ native agents were bringing more adaptive systems to a changing art world, using tactics celebrated in their own communities but until recently taboo in the towers of high culture.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of changing
Verb
  • Clark received another technical foul late in Indiana’s June 13 victory over Connecticut after exchanging words with Saniya Rivers.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The gunman vanished into a home while exchanging shots with deputies, and he was later found in one of the bedrooms, officials said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of exchanging
Verb
  • Kawhi Leonard taught him about body management and coping with expectations.
    — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • But with credit-card interest rates now as high as 28 percent, a short-term coping strategy can quickly become a long-term financial crisis, as interest rates climb and interest costs grow.
    — Sheldon H. Jacobson, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of coping
Noun
  • The move comes as Treasury yields retreated from their highs but remain at elevated levels.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The move into podcasting marks another expansion for MasterClass, which has increasingly blurred the lines between online education and entertainment.
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of move
Verb
  • As a member of Laurence’s group LJE (Laurence Jones Ensemble), Jackson began playing clubs in New York before relocating west in the late ‘70s to join the California funk band Mystic Merlin.
    — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Brooke Black was raised in Chicago and spent years in New York, London, and Los Angeles before relocating to Denmark.
    — Brooke Black, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of relocating

Browse Nearby Words

shiftiness
shifting
shiftless
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Cite this Entry

“Shifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifting. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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