[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/shifting/)

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# shifting

verb, -ing form of shift (shift, shifts, shifted, shifting); adjective (shifting sands)

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

## Everyday

1. Moving or changing position: shifting sand dunes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#m1)
2. Changing: shifting opinions. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#m2)
3. (UK, informal) Moving something, often hard work: shifting furniture. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#m3)
4. Changing gear in a car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#m4)

### In the lessons

In geography, shifting sands and plates of the Earth. In stories, shifting shadows create mystery. Phrases: shifting sands, shifting position, shape-shifting.

### Examples

- The sand dunes are always shifting in the wind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x1)
- He kept shifting in his chair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x2)
- Shifting the heavy sofa took four of us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x3)
- Shifting shadows danced on the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x4)
- The wind is shifting to the north. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x5)
- In the story, the wizard was a shape-shifting fox. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x6)
- Now in one form and now in another, he glides a shifting shape, of which it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory view. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shifting/#x7)

### Note

Shift is a regular verb. Noun: a shift (also a period of work: night shift). Shifty means looking dishonest.

## On Mova

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