sift

[sift]

verb (used with object)

1. to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.

2. to scatter or sprinkle through or by means of a sieve.

   to sift sugar onto cake.

3. to separate by or as if by a sieve.

4. to examine closely.

   The detectives are still sifting the evidence.

   Synonyms: probe, search, inspect, scrutinize, sort

5. to question closely.

verb (used without object)

1. to sift something.

2. to pass or fall through or as if through a sieve.

sift

/ sɪft /

verb

1. (tr) to sieve (sand, flour, etc) in order to remove the coarser particles

2. to scatter (something) over a surface through a sieve

3. (tr) to separate with or as if with a sieve; distinguish between

4. (tr) to examine minutely

   to sift evidence

5. (intr) to move as if through a sieve

Other Word Forms

• outsift verb (used with object)
• presift verb (used with object)
• resift verb (used with object)
• unsifted adjective
• sifter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sift¹

before 900; Middle English siften, Old English siftan; cognate with Dutch, Middle Low German siften; akin to sieve

Word History and Origins

Origin of sift¹

Old English siftan; related to Middle Low German siften to sift, Dutch ziften; see _sieve

Example Sentences

Firms who would have previously hired PwC consultants to sift through data and documents may now use AI models instead, turning weeks of costly work into mere minutes.

Read more on BBC

But there wasn’t much benefit in tracking sales of shovels, pick axes, and sifting pans in order to validate the bull case for the California Gold Rush.

Read more on Barron's

Other cadavers have been discovered by chance, as Syrians sift through the rubble of bombed buildings and reclaim farmland disused during the war.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For a second, I sift through some of the best quotes from all the media I can think of—including video game cutscenes, Disney movies, and my favorite superhero television series.

Read more on Literature

We spent the entire night sifting through our belongings, which the firemen had strewn around the bedroom or had gotten wet as they’d tried to fight the fire.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• analyze 
• comb 
• delve into www.thesaurus.com
• drain 
• evaluate 
• examine 
• explore 
• filter 
• go through 
• investigate 
• pore over www.thesaurus.com
• scrutinize 
• winnow