gearshift

noun

gear·​shift ˈgir-ˌshift How to pronounce gearshift (audio)
variants or gear shift
plural gearshifts or gear shifts
1
: a mechanism by which the transmission gears in a power-transmission system are engaged and disengaged
also : a lever for controlling such a mechanism
2
: the functioning of a gearshift mechanism : the act or an instance of shifting gears
A new, eight-speed automatic transmission makes gear shifts based in part on g-forces that the car encounters during spirited driving.Ann M. Job

Examples of gearshift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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According to Pope, Merritt superglued the gearshift in Brown’s car — an old Audi sedan — following a shouting argument. Ian Frisch, Curbed, 9 Jan. 2025 Sport ups the agility and connectedness, with sharper throttle response and faster gearshifts. Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024 Disable the vehicle by chocking the wheels, placing the gearshift in park and removing the ignition key and/or disconnecting the 12V battery. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2024 But Manz will spec a true gearshift lever to match the transfer-case shifter in classic style, and specific build preferences can drop the use of carbon fiber altogether. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 8 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for gearshift 

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gearshift was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near gearshift

Cite this Entry

“Gearshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gearshift. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

gearshift

noun
gear·​shift ˈgi(ə)r-ˌshift How to pronounce gearshift (audio)
: a mechanism by which transmission gears are connected and disconnected

More from Merriam-Webster on gearshift

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