to move, or make someone or something move, a short distance or into a new position
Could you shift the chair a little so I can open the drawer?
The cat shifted on the windowsill to find a sunnier spot.
✦ Old English “sciftan” meaning "arrange, divide, allot", later "move, change".
a period of working time in a factory, hospital, shop, etc.
I start the morning shift at 6 a.m.
Doctors often work 12-hour shifts in the emergency room.
✦ Sense of "period of scheduled labor" arose in late 19th-century industrial settings.
to change or cause something to change, especially an idea, plan, or situation
Public opinion has shifted in favor of renewable energy.
The company plans to shift its focus to online sales.
✦ Extended sense of physical movement to abstract change appeared in the 16th century.
to change the gear of a vehicle or bicycle
He shifted into second gear as the car climbed the hill.
Don’t forget to shift before the engine starts to strain.
✦ Automotive use dates from early 20th-century motorcars.
a change in something such as a trend, direction, or attitude
There has been a major shift in climate policy.
The demographic shift toward an older population will affect healthcare.
✦ Abstract noun sense recorded since 17th century.
a simple, loose dress that hangs straight down and does not fit tightly at the waist
She wore a linen shift to keep cool in the summer heat.
1960s fashion popularized the mod shift with bold patterns.
✦ From Middle English meaning "undergarment," later adapted for modern dress style.
a key on a computer or typewriter keyboard that, when pressed with another key, produces capital letters or other alternate characters
Hold down Shift and press the letter to type a capital.
Use Shift+Delete to permanently remove a file in Windows.
✦ Named for its function on early typewriters to "shift" the type mechanism to a new position for capitals.
