Synonyms for

Shifting

Verb / ˈʃɪftɪŋ / Another word for shifting — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Moving or changing position or direction.

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • shifting sands
  • shifting perspectives
  • shifting alliances
  • shifting demographics
  • shifting goalposts
  • shifting focus
  • shifting blame

Word family

noun shift
verb shift
adjective shifting
adverb shiftily

Usage note

The adjective 'shifting' often implies a gradual or continuous change. Be mindful of context; 'shifting blame' is a common, often negative, collocation.

Example sentences

  1. She was shifting her weight back and forth nervously.
  2. The gears in the car were shifting smoothly.
  3. He was shifting the blame onto someone else.
  4. The weather was shifting from sunny to cloudy.
  5. The tectonic plates are constantly shifting under the earth's surface.

Quotes

  • There are always new possibilities with this music, and always new surprises, even for me after all these years. I feel like I'm still discovering it myself, still shifting it around. - John Zorn
  • I have to keep upping the ante-and that's why I'm always changing and reinventing myself, and trying to do things that are new, and different, and avant-garde. Sometimes, maybe it's too avant-garde. And sometimes maybe it's too safe. And sometimes it's just right. And that's the shifting sands of creativity. - Madonna
  • The world is changing fast and the way we work has to change, too. - Sheryl Sandberg

Try these popular words

Explore more words