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shift

shift

363 3.5
A change in place, position, or focus
  • noun
  • /ʃɪft/
translation icon : cambio
  • And I think that shift is a big one.
  • paradigm shift
  • a policy shift
  • a major shift

This graph has a phase shift of one to the left.

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Examples

  • And then then there was a policy shift.

  • I feel that there is a shift coming or not coming.

  • The Internet is the number one culture shift of all time.

  • All of this represented a considerable shift regarding the previous reception of US movies.

    Academic text (2017)
  • In the current educational climate, an important shift has occurred calling for research situated in practice.

    Academic text (2013)
  • A number of factors have been cited to explain the shift in Turkish foreign policy.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Indeed, there appears to be a recent shift in public opinion toward stakeholder theory.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Over recent years, there has been a substantial shift in health care to evidence-based practice.

    Academic text (2017)
  • PBIS required a substantial philosophical shift and a new set of skills for most employees.

    Academic text (2013)
  • There has been a noticeable shift in public opinion regarding climate change over the past decade.

Synonyms

change
vsshift
1.1

A time when something becomes different

is a single act or event of moving place, position, or focus
movement
vsshift
696 1.5

A change of place when something moves

is a single event of changing position or focus rather than continuous action
motion
vsshift
544 1.4

Movement or change in position

is a discrete act of changing place or focus rather than continuous movement
transformation
vsshift
241 3.7

A complete change in form or appearance, for example a caterpillar becoming a butterfly

is usually less complete, covering single moves or smaller changes
move
vsshift
167 1.0

A change of position of a body part or object

is the event of changing place, position, state, or attention
switch
vsshift
153 3.2

A change from one thing or person to another

is a broader act of changing place, position, or focus
shifting
vsshift
24 3.7

Moving from one place or state to another

is the single event of moving or changing focus or position
displacement
vsshift
9 6.1

Moving people out of their job or home

is a more general act of changing position or condition
changeover
vsshift
8 4.1

The process of moving from one system or state to another

is any single move or change, not limited to full system replacement
realignment
vsshift
4 4.6

A change in the way parts of a group or system are arranged

is a general act of moving or changing, not always structural
rearrangement
vsshift
4 3.4

A change in the order or position of things

is a simple act of changing place or focus, not specifically order
switching
vsshift
3 2.8

A change from one thing to another

is focused on one specific event of change rather than the ongoing act
3 4.2

A move to a different direction physically or in plans

is broader, covering moves of focus, place, or state beyond direction
3 3.2

A move to face or go a different way

is the wider act of changing position or focus, not only direction
reorientation
vsshift
3 6.2

A change of direction, focus, or beliefs to follow a new way

is any simple act of moving or changing, not only perspective shifts
redirection
vsshift
1 4.2

Changing the direction or destination of people, things, and resources

is a single act that may move beyond simple rerouting
1 2.4

A move of something from one place to another

also covers nonphysical changes like shifts in focus or state
repositioning
vsshift
1 4.2

Moving something or someone to a new position

is any act of moving or changing, not necessarily deliberate placement
transplacement
vsshift
9.3

Moving something from one place to another, for example a machine

is a single event of changing place, position, or focus
gear shift
vsshift
5.0

A sudden change in plan or way of doing things to improve results

is any move or change, not necessarily sudden or strategic

Antonyms

363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

Compounds

52 2.1

Work that happens during the night or the people who do it

A night work period from midnight to early morning

12 2.2

A period of work during the day, usually from morning to afternoon, or the workers who work then

5 4.0

A car transmission you operate with a gear stick and clutch pedal

A very large and sudden change in ideas, beliefs, or ways of doing things

A period of work in the late afternoon and evening

3 4.3

An evening work shift from late afternoon until around midnight

2 2.3

A period of time when you are scheduled to work, for example morning or night

red shift
  • Specialized
2 7.2

Light from distant galaxies moves toward red light, showing they move away

A very big change in a field like business or public opinion

1 2.7

A key on a keyboard that makes letters capital and types other characters

population shift
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A change in where people live or how many live there

Doppler shift
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A change in sound pitch or light colour when the source and observer move

1 5.2

A large change in how people do things around the world

1 4.6

A work schedule with two short work periods separated by a long break

A sudden change in plan or way of doing things to improve results

shift register
  • Specialized
7.7

A small memory that moves bits left or right one place at a time

How Much

transformation
241 3.7
change
1.1
shift
363 3.5
adjustment
133 2.9

Surface Forms

shift singular
shifts plural

Etymology

Shift as a noun also comes from the old root skift meaning 'a change' or 'turn', so a 'shift' is an act or event of moving or changing from one state or place to another.