sift

[sift]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sift 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.

Origin of sift

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

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

Synonyms for sift

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sift ON THESAURUS.COM

4. sort, scrutinize, inspect, search, probe.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sift

Contemporary Examples of sift

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
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
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
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
It is advice to sift, pore over, and weigh up, with a view to us deciding for ourselves.
John Sutherland‘s Enjoyable Little History of Literature
Malcolm Forbes
November 29, 2013

Historical Examples of sift

Sift flour several times before using for sponge cake, as tins causes the flour to become lighter.
Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled during Her Visit among the "Pennsylvania Germans"
Edith M. Thomas
For the dumplings, sift together one cup of flour and two even teaspoons of baking powder.
Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled during Her Visit among the "Pennsylvania Germans"
Edith M. Thomas
Add the cream of tartar to the flour after measuring and sift once more.
The Community Cook Book
Anonymous
If you are forced to give your hens or chickens meal, you must sift it fine and scald it and cool it.
A Complete Edition of the Works of Nancy Luce
Nancy Luce
When the dish is full pour over it a cupful of milk and sift fine crumbs over the top, and add some more bits of butter.
The Fun of Cooking
Caroline French Benton

British Dictionary definitions for sift

sift

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 Formssifter, 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

Word Origin and History for sift

Old English siftan "pass (something) through a sieve," from Proto-Germanic *sib- (cf. Dutch ziften, Middle Low German sichten, German sichten "to sift;" see sieve (n.)). Intransitive sense "to pass loosely or fall scatteredly" is from 1590s. Metaphoric sense of "look carefully through" first recorded 1530s. Related: Sifted; sifting.