shift

A period when someone works, or the group of people working during that period.

• My shift starts at six.
• She worked three night shifts this week.
• The next shift arrived early to help us.

Similar words: work period

Common phrases: night shift, day shift, work a shift

A movement or change in position, direction, or way of thinking.

• There was a sudden shift in the wind.
• The election marked a shift in public opinion.
• Small shifts in position can affect the balance.

How to use it: shift in something (There has been a shift in public opinion.); shift from A to B (We noticed a shift from cars to public transport.); shift towards something (The report describes a shift towards cleaner energy.)

Similar words: change, movement

Common phrases: major shift, shift in something, shift towards something

The keyboard key you hold down to type capital letters or certain symbols.

• Hold shift while typing the letter.
• Press shift and enter together.
• The shift key on my keyboard is broken.

Common phrases: shift key, hold shift, press shift

The control used to change gears in a car or other vehicle.

• The gear shift is beside the driver.
• She learned to drive a car with a stick shift.
• He reached for the shift before climbing the hill.

Similar words: gearshift, gear lever

Common phrases: gear shift, stick shift, automatic shift

A baseball arrangement where fielders move to places where a batter is more likely to hit.

• The team used a shift against that batter.
• Their defensive shift left more space near third base.
• The coach explained why the shift had failed.

Similar words: defensive alignment

Common phrases: infield shift, defensive shift, use a shift

To move, or to change the position, direction, or focus of something.

• The sand shifted under my feet.
• He shifted his attention to the door.
• Our focus has shifted from growth to saving money.

How to use it: shift from A to B (The discussion shifted from prices to safety.); shift something to something (She shifted her attention to the next question.)

Similar words: move, change

Common phrases: shift position, shift focus, shift towards something

To move things or people to a different place or arrange them differently.

• Can you shift this chair?
• We shifted the furniture into the smaller room.
• The company is shifting more workers to its northern office.

How to use it: shift something to somewhere (We shifted the boxes to the garage.); shift something from A to B (They shifted staff from the shop to the warehouse.)

Similar words: move, transfer, relocate

Common phrases: shift something, shift something elsewhere

To move into a different position.

• She shifted in her seat.
• He shifted his weight onto his left foot.
• The baby shifted slightly in her arms.

How to use it: shift in something (He shifted in his chair while waiting.)

Similar words: move, stir

Common phrases: shift in something, shift position, shift weight