sift
verb (used with object)
to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.
sifting
-
present participleof sift.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instead, it was a layered cake made from whipping butter and sugar until it was frothy and then sifting in the dry ingredients.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
Best the Wafles can tell after sifting through family documents last year, Ferris Wafle had just begun playing at William & Mary in 1928, as an offensive and defensive lineman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Others carry the earth to a nearby seasonal river, where mostly women crouch in the murky water, washing and sifting mud and sand hoping to detect a tiny trace of the element.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
From her London base, she is up by 2 a.m. most days, calling locals and sifting through data to find companies ripe for a shake up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
She was silent for a moment as though sifting the words she needed from the chaff of her thoughts.
From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson
