Word
sift
US/ˈsɪft/
UK/sˈɪft/
Definitions
01to sieve powder
B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking
v. to put a dry substance, like flour, through a mesh to make it smooth or remove large pieces.
v. to pass a dry substance through a sieve or mesh to separate smaller particles from larger ones or to aerate the material.
“You should sift the flour into the bowl to make the cake light and fluffy.”
“The recipe specifies that the cocoa powder must be sifted twice to ensure no bitter lumps remain in the delicate sponge mixture.”
02to examine information
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to look through a large amount of information or objects to find the most important parts.
v. to examine a mass of information, evidence, or physical items thoroughly to isolate what is relevant or valuable.
“The police had to sift through hundreds of tips from the public.”
“Archaeologists spent months sifting through the sediment, hoping to find small fragments of pottery that would date the site.”
Synonyms
03the act of sifting
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. the act of checking or sorting through something.
n. the process or instance of sifting, whether physical or metaphorical.
“A quick sift of the documents revealed several errors in the report.”
“After a preliminary sift of the applications, the committee selected five candidates for the final interview stage.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'through' when referring to the examination of information or physical objects.
Pitfall
sift the information
sift through the information
When used to mean 'examine carefully', the verb usually requires the preposition 'through'.
Real-World Examples
“An extravert might gather opinions from colleagues and friends first before sifting through the information to work out what they think.” “Sifting through our life’s possessions is not an easy process, but it is the last hours in the house that are most painful.” Etymology
From Middle English syften, from Old English siftan, from Proto-West Germanic *siftijan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. sift out
02. sift through
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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