sift
verb (used with object)
to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.
sifted
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past participleof sift.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof sift.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
siftverb (used with object)to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.
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.
Agents sifted through hundreds of thousands of records seized during Kao’s arrest and found that many were consistent with his account of widespread influence peddling.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
In an abandoned luxury apartment in the Syrian capital Damascus, armed men dressed in military fatigues sifted through designer clothes and documents.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
A Los Angeles Fire Department crew sifted through rubble on the property and found a wedding ring, along with other precious belongings, authorities said in a news release.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
Then they sifted through each potential match to trace the two whales' journey across the world.
From Barron's ● May 20, 2026
MacNeish’s team sifted through fifty caves before they found anything.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
