Pronunciation

/ʃɪft/

Definitions

Noun

• A shift can refer to:
  • A change in position or direction: “The wind shifted directions during the storm.”
  • A change in work schedule or duty: “She’s taking a night shift at the hospital.”
  • A political or social change: “The political landscape has undergone a significant shift.”
  • A guitar playing technique: “He executed a smooth chord shift on the piano.”

Verb

• To change from one thing to another: “The company decided to shift its focus to e-commerce.”
• To transfer responsibility or control: “The shift manager handed over the duties to the new employee.”
• To alter one’s behavior or attitude: “She shifted her approach after receiving feedback.”

Adjective

• Flexible or adaptable: “The new system allows for easy shifts between different settings.”

Adverb

• In a shifting manner: “The clouds drifted across the sky, casting shifting shadows on the ground.”

Phrases

• “Shift gears” means to change one’s mindset or approach.
• “Shift workload” implies redistributing tasks among team members.
• “Shift responsibility” indicates passing tasks to someone else.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The worker was relieved from his day shift and headed home.”
• Verb: “After the exam, he had to shift his study habits to prepare for the final.”
• Adjective: “The adaptable shift schedule ensures everyone gets enough rest.”

Synonyms

• Change
• Transition
• Shiftiness (informal, primarily referring to a tendency to change)
• Reconfiguration
• Alteration