shift
/ʃɪft/ (bre, ipa) · /ʃɪft/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshift/ (ame, mw)
shift — verb
- shiftpresent simple I / you / we / they
- shifts3rd person singular
- shifting-ing form
- shiftedpast simple
1. to move an object or part of your body from one place or angle to another, usual
to move an object or part of your body from one place or angle to another, usually by a short distance — for example, shifting a sofa a few centimetres, or shifting your weight from one foot to the other.
Ari shifted the sofa a few centimetres left so it would fit against the wall.
shift + object + prepositional phrase
The driver shifted his weight from foot to foot while waiting for the bus.
shift + possessive + body-part noun
As the storm moved closer, the wind began to shift direction.
Xiu carefully shifted the pile of books onto the lower shelf.
The patient shifted uncomfortably in the hospital bed, trying to find a better position.
- move
more general; can describe any distance
- adjust
emphasises fine-tuning position
- reposition
more formal; changing to a better position
文法句型
shift + object + adverb/preposition
shift + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs of direction (left, right, forward, back) or degree (slightly, a little). Unlike move, shift suggests a small or incremental change rather than a large relocation.
常見錯誤
2. of opinions, attention, attitudes, or policies to change from one thing to anoth
of opinions, attention, attitudes, or policies to change from one thing to another — for example, shifting public opinion, shifting focus to a new topic, or shifting strategy from one approach to another.
Public opinion shifted dramatically after the new evidence was made public.
intransitive: subject (abstract) + shift + adverb
Yael shifted her attention from the computer screen to the door when someone knocked.
transitive: shift + possessive + abstract object
The company shifted its strategy toward online sales after the lockdown.
As the conversation deepened, the focus shifted from work problems to personal hopes.
The government has shifted its position on climate change several times this year.
文法句型
shift + from + noun + to + noun
shift + object + from + noun + to + noun
shift toward + noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually abstract: opinion, focus, attention, attitude, policy, strategy. Often followed by from … to … or toward.
常見錯誤
3. to change the gear position in a car, truck, or other vehicle so that the engine
to change the gear position in a car, truck, or other vehicle so that the engine runs at a different speed.
Kabir shifted into third gear as the road flattened out ahead of them.
shift + into + gear number
The driving instructor told Yuki to shift down before reaching the sharp bend.
shift + up/down for gear change direction
Rodrigo shifted gears smoothly and the old truck climbed the hill without trouble.
On steep mountain roads, drivers need to shift to a lower gear to stay safe.
- change gear
more common in British English
- change gears
more common in American English
文法句型
shift + into + gear
shift + up/down
shift + gear
用法筆記
Commonly paired with up (to go faster) or down (to go slower). In automatic cars, the verb shift is less common; drivers say the car changes gear by itself.
4. to leave one house or apartment and settle into another one somewhere else.
to leave one house or apartment and settle into another one somewhere else.
The Watanabe family shifted to a larger flat after their third child was born.
shift + to + new location
Imani shifted from Taipei to Kaohsiung when she accepted a new job there.
We shifted house twice last year, and the children had to change schools each time.
The Ito family shifted to the countryside after Mr. Ito retired from his city job.
- stay
to remain in the same home
文法句型
shift + to/from + place
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, move is almost always used instead. The expression shift house (without the article) is a fixed collocation in British and Australian English.
常見錯誤
5. to dispose of unwanted possessions or surplus items by selling them, particularl
to dispose of unwanted possessions or surplus items by selling them, particularly when they are hard to find a buyer for.
The owner shifted the old farming equipment at the market for a very low price.
shift + object + for + price
Anna decided to shift some of her winter clothes through an online second-hand shop.
The warehouse needs to shift its remaining stock before the new shipment arrives.
The second-hand shop shifted most of its furniture within the first week of the sale.
- sell off
implies selling at a reduced price
- offload
emphasises removing a burden
- dispose of
more formal; getting rid of something
文法句型
shift + object (goods, stock, products)
用法筆記
Object is typically something the seller wants to be free of: unwanted stock, old merchandise, surplus goods. Not used for ordinary shopping transactions.
常見錯誤
shift — noun
- shiftsingular
- shiftsplural
1. one of the scheduled blocks of time into which a working day is divided, with on
one of the scheduled blocks of time into which a working day is divided, with one team taking over from another when the block ends; also, the team of workers assigned to that block.
Eve works the hospital night shift, from eleven at night until seven.
work the + [time] + shift
The morning shift finishes at three, and then the afternoon crew takes over.
the + [time] + shift (referring to the group of workers)
Rania's manager asked if she could cover an extra shift this weekend.
Factory workers at the plant often rotate shifts so nobody is stuck with nights forever.
The day shift reported fewer accidents than the night shift this month.
- stint
emphasises a fixed period of work at any job
- roster
refers to the schedule or list of workers
- tour of duty
military context; a period of service
文法句型
the + time + shift
work/do + a/the + shift
cover + a shift
用法筆記
Can refer either to the time period (a twelve-hour shift) or to the group of people (The night shift is arriving). With a collective noun, both singular and plural verb forms are possible: The shift is/are meeting at noon.
常見錯誤
2. a change in the position, direction, focus, attitude, or policy of something.
a change in the position, direction, focus, attitude, or policy of something.
There has been a noticeable shift in public attitudes toward renewable energy since the blackouts.
shift + in + abstract noun
A sudden shift in the wind forced the sailors to change course immediately.
A major shift in policy now lets employees work from home twice a week.
The teacher welcomed the positive shift in Quinn's attitude after the summer break.
- change
broader; any kind of difference over time
- transition
suggests a process of moving from one state to another
- turn
a change of direction, often more sudden
- stability
the state of staying the same
- continuity
lack of interruption or change
文法句型
shift + in + noun
shift + from + noun + to + noun
dramatic/sudden/major + shift
用法筆記
Typically followed by in + noun (shift in policy, shift in attitude, shift in emphasis) or from … to … (a shift from cars to trains). Often modified by adjectives like dramatic, gradual, fundamental, subtle.
常見錯誤
3. a woman's or girl's dress cut in a straight, loose shape that falls from the sho
a woman's or girl's dress cut in a straight, loose shape that falls from the shoulders to the hem, with no tight waistline or belt.
Anna wore a soft cotton shift in pale blue to the company summer picnic.
fabric + shift + colour description
The shop sells linen shifts that are perfect for hot and humid weather.
Yuki bought a simple black shift for the office Christmas party.
The bride wore a plain white shift dress for the beach wedding ceremony.
- shift dress
the full name for this style
- sheath dress
similar but more fitted through the body
用法筆記
Also called a shift dress. It differs from a fitted dress by having no defined waistline — the fabric hangs straight down from the shoulders to the hem.
4. a keyboard key used to produce capital letters or the second symbol printed on a
a keyboard key used to produce capital letters or the second symbol printed on a key, for instance the symbol printed above a number.
Hold down the Shift key while pressing letter A to type a capital A.
hold down + Shift key + while + action
To type the at symbol, press Shift and the number two at the same time.
The Shift key on my laptop is smaller than the one on my desktop keyboard.
A stuck Shift key may cause you to type everything in capital letters.
文法句型
the Shift key
hold down/press + Shift
用法筆記
Capitalised when referring to the specific labelled key (the Shift key). When referring to the action, shift can be lowercased: press shift and the letter a. Often simply called Shift.