sift

American  

[sift] / sɪft /

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.

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verb (used without object)

1. to sift something.

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

sift British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of sift

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

Explanation

To bake a cake, you sift the flour to get out the lumps. When you sift, you separate out one thing from another. When you sort through the mail looking for the bills or go through your photos to find that shot of your dog, that’s sifting, too. Detectives sift through piles of evidence when investigating crimes, and you might sift through the hundred applications you get from drummers eager to join your band, to find Ms. Right. When you're at the beach, you can sift sand through your fingers, and you might see big machines that sift the sand to clean it.

Example Sentences

In addition to contractors Boeing and Northrop Grumman, they include startups Picogrid and Sift.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2025

Sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and baking soda into a medium bowl.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 25, 2022

Sift the cornstarch and cake flour into the bowl and whisk again until well combined.

From Washington Post • Sep. 2, 2022

Sift by small quantities into the mixture, beating well each time.

From The Mary Frances Cook Book Adventures Among the Kitchen People by Fryer, Jane Earye

Related Words

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