From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishshiftshift1 /ʃɪft/ ●●○ S3 W3 AWL verb 1 move a) [intransitive, transitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONMOVE something OR somebody to move from one place or position to another, or make something do this Joe listened, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another. She shifted her gaze from me to Bobby. b) [transitive] British English informalCARRY to move something, especially by picking it up and carrying it Give me a hand to shift these chairs.2 change attention [transitive]ATTENTION to change a situation, discussion etc by giving special attention to one idea or subject instead of to a previous oneshift something away/onto/from etc The White House hopes to shift the media’s attention away from foreign policy issues.attention/emphasis/focus shifts In this stage of a rape case, the focus often shifts onto the victim and her conduct.shift gear American English (=change what you are doing) It’s hard to shift gear when you come home after a busy day at work.3 change opinion [intransitive, transitive]CHANGE YOUR MIND if someone’s opinions, beliefs etc shift, they change Public opinion was beginning to shift to the right (=become more right-wing). shifting attitudes towards marriage He refused to shift his ground (=change his opinion).4 → shift the blame/responsibility (onto somebody)5 costs/spending [transitive always + adverb/preposition]BF to change the way that money is paid or spent SYN direct the need to shift more resources towards reducing poverty6 dirt/marks [transitive] British EnglishCLEANWASH to remove dirt or marks from a surface or piece of clothing a new washing powder that will shift any stain 7 in a car [intransitive, transitive] especially American EnglishTTC to change the gears when you are driving SYN change British English I shifted into second gear.8 sell [transitive] British English informal to sell a product, especially a lot of it The store shifted over 1,000 copies of the book last week.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
shift• But if the expected rate of inflation changes then the Phillips curve will shift.• However, the bullet in Rocio brain is moving, shifting.• Blood stains are very difficult to shift.• When are you going to shift all this rubbish? It's making the place look a real mess.• The planet as a whole will be moving with respect to the Earth, and this will shift all wavelengths in the pulse.• shifting attitudes toward homosexuality• Investors were shifting funds from U.S. to Asian stocks.• She shifted her gaze from me to Bobby with a look of suspicion.• The leather armchair creaked as Roberts shifted his bulk.• Tell Alan to shift his feet so Maggie can sit down.• The sofa is stuck in the doorway and I can't shift it.• There is a strong need to shift more resources toward health care.• It could also hurt the software industry, although companies working on the Internet Box say it would just shift software sales.• There's no point trying to shift the car by ourselves -- we'll have to get a truck to pull us out.• Come on Des, give me a hand to shift these and then we can go home.• I've washed the tablecloth three times, but I can't seem to shift these stains.• Notice also that the distribution is shifted to higher speeds at a higher temperature.• The text on the screen will shift to the left, some off the edge of the screen and out of view.• The sun had shifted to the west.• The building's foundation has shifted, which is why there are cracks in the plaster.shift gear• Engines with good torque back-up handle a wide load changes without the need to shift gear.• He follows me on foot and tells me how to shift gears.• I just keep it spinning until it gets to a point where it's not making more power and then shift gears.• Would I be able to shift gears and be a gregarious host?• She looked at the strong hand as it shifted gears and continued resting on the lever.• There's good torque for clean response and brisk pick-up after shifting gear, but high-end engine output is nothing startling.• In the next few years the Supreme Court may shift gears or even reverse course.shift ... ground• Among more radical monetarists and free marketeers there remains disappointment that the government had not done more to shift the middle ground.• That said, agreements must be reached, and all parties will need to shift their ground.• Only in the last respect has Anderson shifted his ground substantially. shift ... stain• They seek her advice on how to shift stains without bleach and how to go green on a budget.shiftshift2 ●●○ AWL noun [countable] 1 CHANGE YOUR MINDa change in the way people think about something, in the way something is done etcshift from/to the shift from one type of economic system to anothershift in an important shift in policy a marked shift (=noticeable change) in attitudes towards women2 a) BEJOB/WORKif workers in a factory, hospital etc work shifts, they work for a particular period of time during the day or night, and are then replaced by others, so that there are always people workingdo/work a (10-/12-/24- etc hour) shift Dave had to work a 12-hour shift yesterday. I work shifts.night/day etc shift The thought of working night shifts put her off becoming a nurse.early/late shift I’m on the early shift tomorrow.shift work/worker/working people who do shift work A shift system has been introduced. b) WORKERGROUP OF PEOPLEthe workers who work during one of these periodsnight/day/early/late shift before the early shift goes off duty3 TDa shift key To run the spell-checker, press SHIFT and F7.4 (also shift dress) a simple straight loose-fitting woman’s dressCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a change in the way people think about something, in the way something is done etcADJECTIVES/NOUN + shift a big/major shiftThere has recently been a big shift in the way people are accessing information. a significant/marked shift (=big and noticeable)There has been a significant shift in government policy on education.a fundamental shift (=a complete change)A fundamental shift in attitudes was underway.a sudden shiftShe immediately picked up his sudden shifts of mood.a dramatic shift (=a big and sudden change)Increased spending on the armed forces marks a dramatic shift in priorities.a small/slight shiftThere has been only a slight shift in income distribution.a gradual shiftThere has been a gradual shift in people’s attitudes towards cars.a subtle shift (=a change which is small and not easy to notice)Recently there has been a subtle shift in public opinion about the environment.a policy shiftThe policy shift was triggered by a sharp increase in violent crime.a cultural shiftWe all know there were cultural shifts in the 1960s that significantly changed our society.verbsmark/represent a shiftThe idea represents a dramatic shift in health care policy.cause/bring about a shiftThe affair has brought about a shift in the government’s attitude towards immigration. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: verbswork a shiftThey work quite long shifts.do a shiftI did a 12-hour shift yesterday.work in shiftsWe had to work in shifts – four hours on and four off.be on shift (=be working a shift)He hardly sees the kids when he’s on shift.be on the late/early/night etc shift (=be working a particular shift)She’s on the late shift.be on day/night shifts (=be working a series of day or night shifts)He’s on night shifts all next week.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + shift a night shiftShe found it hard to stay awake during her night shifts at the factory.a day shiftHe’s going to be on day shifts for five days.a morning/afternoon/evening shiftAll the machines are cleaned at the end of every afternoon shift.an early/late shiftNobody wants to do the late shift.a 12-hour/16-hour etc shiftWe used to work eight-hour shifts.the graveyard shift informal (=a shift that begins late at night or very early in the morning)He chose to work the graveyard shift because the pay was slightly better.a double shift (=when someone works two shifts one after the other)He is only halfway through a 20-hour double shift.shift + NOUNshift work/working (=working shifts)Does the job involve shift work?a shift workerThe meetings are at different times so that shift workers have an opportunity to attend.a shift system (=a system in which people work shifts)A shift system was introduced in the department last year. Examples from the Corpus
shift• The new emphasis on human rights was a shift away from the policies of Nixon.• There has been a big shift in attitudes towards sex during the past 50 years.• The circuit of a 2-bit shift register is shown in Fig. 18.• It required six technicians to operate it on each shift.• With the end of the medieval period, however, a gradual shift in viewpoint took place.• The great shift toward less fatty beef and more chicken is a great, heart-healthy move.• At Ellesmere Port a foreman and seven fitters run a 24 hour operation in two main shifts.• We've seen a marked shift in our approach to the social issues.• But what kind of shift is involved?• He is very worried about the shift towards free market thinking in Eastern Europe.• Members of all three shifts were milling about the circular room: repeating rumours, distorting facts and generally hyping themselves up.shift from/to• A shift to the afternoons may end his nine-cups-of-coffee wake-up habit.• The orchestra swells and the canopy shifts to a subtle blue as its 2 million lights come alive.• If the question of control shifts from project planning to implementation, however, the federal role appears to be greater.• The nature of competition has shifted from the war of all against all to competition between fluid networks of complementary companies.• a major shift from manufacturing to service industries• The numbers shift to the left because the tab-align code is still in the text. 6.• Also practise the position shift from low to high and back.• The Boston economy expanded rapidly during the 1970s and the shift from a manufacturing to a service base accelerated during that time.• Still, the shift from slave to non-slave labour was striking.do/work a (10-/12-/24- etc hour) shift• In the early 1950s Highlander work shifted to make educational programs on the civil rights issue its major priority.• Her husband worked shifts so evening study would be difficult.• I am a nurse working shifts and enjoyed, and needed, early nights and morning lie-ins.• Our 68 staff work 12 hour shifts giving a 24 hour service.• People who do shift work often choose far longer hours than the basic hours that the Labour party would have them work.From Longman Business Dictionaryshiftshift1 /ʃɪft/ noun [countable]1HUMAN RESOURCESone of the set periods of time during each day and night when a group of workers in a factory etc are at work before being replaced by another group of workersShe works an eight-hour shift.Are you on the day shift or the night shift?2HUMAN RESOURCESthe group of workers who work shiftsThe night shift was just about to go off duty.3a change in the way people think about something, in the way something is done etcshift inThe best way to measure shifts in a country’s exchange rate is to use its trade-weighted exchange rate.shift from/tothe shift from private to institutional shareholdersThe shift to larger out-of-town sites has influenced consumer spending patterns.4COMPUTINGthe SHIFT KEY on a computer keyboard that you press to print a capital lettershiftshift2 verb [transitive]COMMERCE to move or sell somethingThis deal is the key to shifting about A$3 billion of debt off the balance sheet.We shifted 10,000 units last week.→ See Verb tableOrigin shift1 Old English sciftan “to divide, arrange” 