sift

[ sift ]

/ sɪft /

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See synonyms for: sift / sifting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

to scatter or sprinkle through or by means of a sieve: to sift sugar onto cake.

to separate by or as if by a sieve.

to examine closely: The detectives are still sifting the evidence.

to question closely.

verb (used without object)

to sift something.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR sift

4 sort, scrutinize, inspect, search, probe.

See synonyms for sift on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of sift

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

OTHER WORDS FROM sift

outsift, verb (used with object)pre·sift, verb (used with object)re·sift, verb (used with object)un·sift·ed, adjective

Words nearby sift

sieve-tube element, Sieyès, sif, sifaka, Sifrei Torah, sift, sifter, siftings, SIG, siganid, Sigatoka

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sift in a sentence

Moreover, as agencies continue to invest in more data-generating tools, they are having to sift through more data than ever, and are struggling to keep up.
Solving the agency search intelligence gap|Ian O’Rourke and Stephen Davis|February 9, 2021|Search Engine Watch
He takes core samples of that mud, dries it, sifts it and counts carbon atoms to determine how much the whole wetland sequesters.
Farmers Want to Create San Diego’s Carbon Dumps|MacKenzie Elmer|February 3, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The Nationals had to sift through whether that was related to his age or the pandemic-altered schedule.
Nationals and veteran starter Jon Lester agree to one-year deal|Jesse Dougherty|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
There will be more scheduled games wiped out between now and March 14, and the selection committee’s task of sifting through and sizing up the accomplishments will be challenging.
NCAA tournament bracketology: Figuring out the one-bid leagues will be a chore during the pandemic|Patrick Stevens|January 12, 2021|Washington Post

I spent a lot of time sifting through the fury and fear online looking for some clue about what we’re supposed to do now.
Picking Up the Pieces of Us|Susanna Schrobsdorff|January 10, 2021|Time
Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.
Make These Barefoot Contessa Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies|Ina Garten|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But should you lack the energy to sift through the glut of options yourself, we can at least helpfully endorse this one.
WGN’s ‘Manhattan’ Is Summer’s Best New Show. But Will Anyone Watch?|Kevin Fallon|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if you can sift through all of the legal posturing, a fairly accurate portrait of Sterling himself does begin to emerge.
Donald Sterling’s New Defense: Look at All the Blacks I’ve Hired|Robert Silverman|May 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bernard: Film festivals sift out stuff that would never make the cut.
Sony Pictures Classics’ Michael Barker and Tom Bernard on Woody Allen and the State of Indie Film|Richard Porton|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sift the dry ingredients over a piece of parchment paper and then pour into a medium bowl.
Cat Cora’s Valentine’s Day Menu for Single People|Cat Cora|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He watched the Eye's slim white fingers reach down into the layer of diamonds, watched them sift the glittering gems.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
It would be amusing to watch those flatfoots sitting around trying to sift a motive out of the thing.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Sift the whole through a fine cloth and add the yolks of a hundred poached eggs.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 152, May 16, 1917.|Various
Drink, and go to sleep—sleep so sound that you waken only when Moukir and Nakir, the death angels, sift soul from body.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
Who knows but some of her charms might miraculously sift in through a rent in my package and breathe a spell upon my words?
Gardens of the Caribbees, v. 1/2|Ida May Hill Starr

British Dictionary definitions for sift

sift

/ (sɪft) /

verb

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

to scatter (something) over a surface through a sieve

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

(tr) to examine minutelyto sift evidence

(intr) to move as if through a sieve

Derived forms of sift

sifter, noun

Word Origin for sift

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sift

OTHER WORDS FOR sift

Origin of sift

OTHER WORDS FROM sift

Words nearby sift

Words related to sift

How to use sift in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sift

Derived forms of sift

Word Origin for sift