ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shifts

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈʃɪfts// UK //ʃˈɪfts// shifts

n. the set periods of time when different groups of people work. You use this when a business stays open for a long time and needs workers to take turns.

n. scheduled periods of time during which different groups of workers perform their duties in succession. Often used to describe labor patterns in industries that operate twenty-four hours a day.


SIMPLE

She works the night shift at the local hospital.

CONTEXTUAL

The factory operates three eight-hour shifts to ensure production never stops during the week.

COMPLEX

The transition between the morning and afternoon shifts requires a brief handover period to ensure that all safety protocols remain strictly observed by the incoming crew.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used with 'on' or 'during' ('on the night shift').

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