shift
verb (used with object)
to put (something) aside and replace it by another or others; change or exchange.
had been shifting
-
past perfect progressiveof shift.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
He had been shifting the final assembly of more iPhones to India for several years, so he was able to reroute more India-assembled phones to the U.S. to dodge the tariffs on China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2025
In his declaration, Newsom said land in the area had been shifting as much as a foot a week, and that land movement had significantly accelerated after the severe storms of 2023 and 2024.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2024
During that period, she had been shifting her experimental music towards a more feminist-oriented rock 'n' roll, as revealed in her 1973 albums "Approximately Infinite Universe" and "Feeling the Space."
From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2023
But then the reader remembered that the employer had recently opened a new facility in another state with lower labor costs, and had been shifting more work, resources and opportunities there.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 8, 2022
The people in the crowded audience, who though respectful had been shifting in their seats and whispering, quieted completely when Kira and Thomas entered and took their places.
From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
