When the word "shift" is used as a verb, it means to move or to change. It’s also a word popularly used when changing from one gear to another on a car or on a bike.
We shifted some money from one bank account to another.
The wind is shifting from the south to the southeast.
David always shifts his car into a lower gear when he climbs this steep road.
I shift gears a lot while riding my bike.
The company is shifting some employees from the afternoon to the evening.
We need to shift some weight in the truck so that it’s more evenly distributed.
When used as a noun, "shift" means change or move, but it’s also used for an amount of time at work. Some companies and organizations operate 24 hours a day, which is divided into three equal shifts: the day shift, the afternoon shift, and the night shift.
Jan works the second shift from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sometimes her husband works the overnight shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Most workers prefer the day shift from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
John is making a shift into a new career.
Did you notice a sudden shift in the wind?
A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court represents a major shift for how business and government will now operate.
Doctors must always be available at a hospital, so some of them have to work the overnight shift.
