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

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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

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

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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

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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
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 The bargain rewards responsible development and filters out speculation, secrecy and cost shifting. — Mark Drapeau, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 Second, the recent shifting of US export control policy has created a real concern among other nations that access to frontier intelligence itself could someday be gated by geopolitics, not just chips. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Recorded on a Tascam four-track in her Los Angeles living room, the demos capture Auf der Maur experimenting with acoustic guitar, bass, layered vocals and lo-fi tape manipulation, including reversing cassettes and pitch-shifting. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 20 July 2026 This resulted in a deliberate shifting of certain emphases, new characters being introduced, and other adjustments. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 June 2026
Verb
Temperatures are at record highs, currents are shifting and stronger storms wash more pollutants into the water, including sewage and fertilizers, which can trigger huge algae blooms. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026 Her arrival stirs enough secrets, crushes, and shifting loyalties to fill an eight-episode TV show. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 As legislation is introduced at a record pace, shifting political views are driving more proposals that seek to restrict the tech giants. — Chris Hacker, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026 Experts recommend gradually shifting bedtime and wake-up schedules one to two weeks before school begins, creating screen-free bedtime routines and ensuring children get age-appropriate sleep each night. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 When former leaders lose relative strength and defensive sectors begin to outperform, the risk environment may already be shifting. — Thomas Hartmann, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Boise has been transforming its airport over the last few years, including by building employee parking and shifting the cell phone waiting lot from the airport’s campus to a lot near Curtis and Victory roads. — Idaho Statesman, 2 Sep. 2026 Disability can vary in so many ways, shifting with experience and context, with time and bodily change. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 That project documents a show that has become one of Byrne’s most ambitious live productions, with 13 musicians, singers and dancers moving through a constantly shifting blend of choreography, visual art, storytelling and music. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 2 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 role of companies Singapore’s new scheme shifts from merely encouraging births to focus on family well-being over the long term, which might help change how potential parents think about children.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • As Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has pointed out, Apple has made this shift before when the Friday has been on this date.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of shift
Verb
  • Instead of simply moving the body without the patient’s involvement, HAL responds to the person’s own intention to move.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Others are already moving confidently through modern cities, studying, working and shaping lives increasingly separate from traditional expectations.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of moving
Verb
  • With the contact patch sliding and squirming, the brakes had less to work with—and the car took just enough extra distance to end in an impact.
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Unless your companion could use a hand or is traveling with young kids (in the latter case, if this person also happens to be your spouse or partner, really not cool to leave them with the stroller, diaper bag, squirming kids).
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of squirming
Verb
  • Doing the math, that leaves two other units with residents who will have a say since allowing the foundation to take over the entire space would require changing the co-op’s bylaws, Richards said.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Asked about their firm’s primary hurdle in managing the current trade landscape, the vast majority (57 percent) said policy uncertainty, like tariffs changing with little notice, as their foremost challenge.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of changing
Verb
  • Land exchanges are common elsewhere in the federal government, but exchanging National Park Service land for private development access is unusual, NOTUS reported, citing a former park service official.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • First, the Huskies mixed it up with some marching band members on the practice field outside of Huskie Stadium, jumping in on a routine and exchanging fight songs, with the players chanting, clapping and pumping their fists during their version.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exchanging
Verb
  • That might be due to grit, stamina—or a little psychological trick called a coping mantra.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Navigating that grief can be difficult and coping with it looks different for everyone.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of coping
Noun
  • Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Top Republican and Democratic members of the panel condemned Black’s defiance and are weighing whether to hold him in contempt of Congress, a move that could expose him to criminal prosecution.
    — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of move
Verb
  • Springfield first found success in Australia as a member of the band Zoot before pursuing a solo career and eventually relocating to the United States.
    — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The development comes a week after the city started the process of relocating residents to allow for the new owner to make needed repairs.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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