shift

B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic

v. to change your opinion, a plan, or the way you look at something.

v. to undergo or cause a change in character, focus, or opinion.

“The government has shifted its focus toward improving public transport.”

“Public opinion shifted significantly following the publication of the report, leading to a renewed demand for legislative reform.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to change the gears in a car or bicycle.

v. to change the gear ratio in a motor vehicle or on a bicycle.

Español:cambiar

“You should shift into a lower gear before you start climbing the steep hill.”

“The driver shifted smoothly into fourth gear as the car accelerated onto the motorway.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the period of time you spend at work, or the group of people who work then.

n. a scheduled period of work or the group of workers who perform their duties during such a period.

“My sister works the night shift at the hospital, so she sleeps during the day.”

“The factory operates on three eight-hour shifts to ensure that production never ceases during the working week.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a change in position, direction, or the way something is done.

n. a change in position, direction, or tendency.

“There has been a major shift in how people use social media lately.”

“The sudden shift in wind direction caught the sailors by surprise, making it difficult to keep the vessel on its intended path.”

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Computing

n. the key on a computer keyboard that you press to type capital letters.

n. a modifier key on a keyboard used to type capital letters or alternate characters.

“Hold down the shift key to type a capital letter.”

“The programmer used a combination of the shift and control keys to trigger the debugging macro.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a simple, loose-fitting dress that hangs straight down.

n. a straight, loose-fitting dress without a defined waistline.

“She wore a simple linen shift to the beach party.”

“The historical drama featured costumes ranging from elaborate court gowns to the simple cotton shifts worn by the servants.”

C2 · Proficiency Dialect · Slang · Informal

v. to kiss someone passionately.

v. to engage in prolonged or passionate kissing.

“He was hoping to shift her at the disco on Friday night.”

“The teenagers spent the entire evening gossiping about who had shifted whom at the end-of-term party.”