shift

noun countable

UK /ʃɪft/

Word Forms

singular	shift
plural	shifts

1
a period of work time in a factory, hospital, or other place where some people work during the day and some work at night
a 12-hour shift
day/night/evening etc shift:
Rudolfo works the day shift.
Synonyms and related words
The working day
at work
billable time
business hours
1. 1a
  the people who work during a particular shift
  Synonyms and related words
  The working day
  at work
  billable time
  business hours
  Synonyms and related words
  Groups of people who work together
  army
  board
  body
2
a change in something, for example in someone’s ideas or opinions
the government’s latest major policy shift
shift in:
Companies were reacting too slowly to shifts in consumer demand.
shift towards:
There has been a recent shift towards involving more laypeople in decision making.
Synonyms and related words
A change of opinion
about-turn
climb-down
shift
3
computinga shift key on a computer keyboard
Synonyms and related words
Keys on the computer keyboard
Alt key
arrow key
backspace
4
a dress that hangs down straight
Synonyms and related words
Skirts and dresses
ballgown
caftan
chemise

shift

noun countable

US /ʃɪft/

Word Forms

singular	shift
plural	shifts

1
a period of work time in a factory, hospital, or other place where some people work during the day and some work at night
a 12-hour shift
day/night/evening etc. shift:
Rudy works the day shift.
Synonyms and related words
The working day
at work
be on days
billable time
1. 1a
  the people who work during a particular shift
  Synonyms and related words
  The working day
  at work
  be on days
  billable time
  Synonyms and related words
  Groups of people who work together
  army
  board
  body
2
a change in something, for example in someone’s ideas or opinions
the government’s latest major policy shift
shift in:
Companies were reacting too slowly to shifts in consumer demand.
shift toward:
There has been a recent shift toward hiring more people with good writing skills.
Synonyms and related words
A change of opinion
about-face
reappraisal
shift
3
computinga shift key on a computer keyboard
Synonyms and related words
Keys on the computer keyboard
Alt key
arrow key
backspace
4
a dress that hangs down straight
Synonyms and related words
Skirts and dresses
ballgown
chemise
cheongsam

shift

verb

UK /ʃɪft/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	shift
he/she/it	shifts
present participle	shifting
past tense	shifted
past participle	shifted

1
intransitive/transitive if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if someone shifts it, it changes
Public opinion had shifted sharply to the left following the war.
shift your ground:
Most newspapers have shifted their ground considerably on this issue.
shift attention/focus/emphasis:
The government has shifted its attention away from the fight against crime.
Britain’s focus is shifting back towards its old partners in Europe.
Synonyms and related words
To change something
change
make into
convert
Synonyms and related words
To become different
change
turn into
change into
1. 1a
  to change from one gear to another when you are driving a car
  She shifted smoothly into third gear as we went into the bend.
  Synonyms and related words
  To drive, or to operate a vehicle
  back up
  belt up
  be on someone’s tail
2. 1b
  to make someone or something else responsible for something, especially when this is unfair
  shift blame/responsibility:
  They want to shift the blame for rising unemployment onto the recession.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone responsible for something
  entrust
  saddle with
  shift
2
intransitive/transitive to move your body or a part of your body slightly, for example because you are bored
The children are shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
shift your weight:
Martha shifted her weight from foot to foot.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
1. 2a
  transitive Britishinformalto move an object from one place to another
  We’ll need to shift this table over to the wall.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning to move something
  budge
  propel
  guide
2. 2b
  intransitive/transitive if things such as land or buildings shift, or if something shifts them, they move slightly
  The wall is shifting a couple of inches every year.
  Synonyms and related words
  What land does
  rise
  shift
  erode
3. 2c
  intransitive/transitive to move your eyes in order to look at something else
  shift your eyes/gaze:
  She stared at him, then shifted her gaze to the suitcase on the bed.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning to look or not look
  look around
  look at
  look
3
transitive Britishinformalto get rid of something
None of the medicines I’ve taken have shifted this cold.
There’s still a stain on the carpet that I can’t shift.
Synonyms and related words
To get rid of something or someone
replace
throw away
shed
1. 3a
  informalto sell something
  The supermarkets shift more wine in a weekend than we do all year.
  Synonyms and related words
  To sell something
  disintermediate
  mis-sell
  upsell
4
intransitive computingto press the shift key on a computer keyboard
Synonyms and related words
To use a computer keyboard, mouse or screen
backspace
click
click
5
shift for yourself
to manage as best you can without help
They can think on their feet and shift for themselves.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 26/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017

phrases

shift gears

shift

verb

US /ʃɪft/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	shift
he/she/it	shifts
present participle	shifting
past tense	shifted
past participle	shifted

1
intransitive/transitive to move your body or a part of your body slightly, for example because you are bored
The children are shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
shift your weight:
Martha shifted her weight from foot to foot.
Synonyms and related words
To change your position
balance
bear yourself
bend
1. 1a
  if things such as land or buildings shift, or if something shifts them, they move slightly
  The wall is shifting a little bit every year.
  Synonyms and related words
  What land does
  rise
  shift
  erode
2. 1b
  to move your eyes in order to look at something else
  shift your eyes/gaze:
  She stared at him, then shifted her gaze to the suitcase on the bed.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning to look or not look
  look around
  look
  check on
2
intransitive/transitive if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if someone shifts it, it changes
Public opinion had shifted sharply following the war.
shift attention/focus/emphasis:
The government has shifted its attention away from the fight against crime.
Our focus is shifting back toward Asia.
Synonyms and related words
To change something
change
transform
make into
Synonyms and related words
To become different
transition
change
turn into
1. 2a
  to make someone or something else responsible for something, especially when this is unfair
  shift blame/responsibility:
  They want to shift the blame for rising unemployment onto the recession.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make someone responsible for something
  entrust
  saddle with
  shift
2. 2b
  to change from one gear to another when you are driving a car
  She shifted smoothly into third gear.
  Synonyms and related words
  To drive, or to operate a vehicle
  back up
  block in
  box in
3
intransitive computingto press the shift key on a computer keyboard
Synonyms and related words
To use a computer keyboard, mouse or screen
backspace
click
click
4
shift for yourself
to manage as best you can without help
They can think on their feet and shift for themselves.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 26/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017

phrases

shift gears

shift ​‌‌

shift ​‌‌

shift ​‌‌‌

shift for yourself

shift ​‌‌‌

shift for yourself

shift

shift

shift

shift