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# shift

verb (shift, shifts, shifted, shifting); noun (a shift, shifts)

«shift» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To shift means to move something from one place or position to another: "help me shift this table". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m1)
2. To shift also means to change: "the wind shifted to the north". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m2)
3. A shift is a change: "a shift in the weather". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m3)
4. A shift is a set period of work, for example in a hospital or factory; a night shift is work at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m4)
5. The shift key on a keyboard makes capital letters. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m5)
6. (UK, informal) To shift can mean to move fast or to get rid of something: "that car can really shift", "I need to shift this cold". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m6)
7. An old word for a loose, simple dress or undergarment worn by women is also called a shift. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#m7)

### In the lessons

In maths, a shift (also called a translation) slides a shape without turning it; "shift 3 squares right". In word problems, workers' shifts are counted in hours: three 8-hour shifts cover 24 hours. In science, plates of the Earth shift and cause earthquakes. Phrases: night shift, day shift, shift work, shift gears, shift the blame, shift key, shift about.

### Examples

- Can you help me shift the sofa? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x1)
- The wind shifted and the rain came in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x2)
- My mum works the night shift at the hospital. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x3)
- Each shift is 8 hours long, so three shifts cover the whole day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x4)
- Press shift to type a capital letter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x5)
- Shift the triangle 4 squares to the left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x6)
- Don't try to shift the blame onto me! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x7)
- Come on, shift, we're late! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x8)
- "If you'll marry me, I'll give you back your shift." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/#x9)

### Note

Past form: shifted. A shift of work is countable: "two shifts". In maths a shift keeps the size and shape the same; only the position changes. "Shift" used for gears and for "move fast" is informal.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «shift» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shift/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«shift» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shift.html) on Mova free.