shift

Shift is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

• Audio (CA)

  (file)

• IPA: /ʃɪft/
• SAMPA: /SIft/

Verb

Plain form shift

Third-person singular shifts

Past tense shifted

Past participle shifted

Present participle shifting

1. (transitive & intransitive) If something shifts, it moves.

   The talk about crime has shifted from causes to solutions.

   The desert sands are constantly shifting.

   Let's shift our seats so we can see the stage better.

Noun

Singular shift

Plural shifts

The shift keys are circled in red

1. A shift is a movement.

   There has been a major shift in thinking about how to deal with this.

2. A shift is the time that workers start and finish work.

   I'm working the night shift this week.

3. The shift key on a computer changes from small to big letters.