sift

verb

ˈsift How to pronounce sift (audio)
sifted; sifting; sifts
Synonyms of siftnext

transitive verb

1
a
: to put through a sieve
sift flour
b
: to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve
2
: to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable
sifted the evidence
—often used with through
sift through a pile of old letters
3
: to scatter by or as if by sifting
sift sugar on a cake

intransitive verb

1
: to use a sieve
2
: to pass or fall as if through a sieve
sifter noun

Examples of sift in a Sentence

Sift the flour into a mixing bowl. Sift the lumps from the sugar. The police sifted the evidence in hopes of finding a clue. The police sifted for clues.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead of manually sifting through dense government databases, AI can surface relevant bids, flag compliance risks and even generate near-complete proposal drafts. — Derek Hoyt, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 Attorneys are still sifting through pages of discovery. — Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025 Below, Kennedy shares her expert tips on how to differentiate authentic designer pieces from counterfeits when sifting through thrift stores. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 That being said, our staff’s reviews may help make the brand’s extensive line of products less overwhelming to sift through. — Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sift

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English siftan; akin to Old English sife sieve

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sift was before the 12th century

Rhymes for sift

See All Rhymes for sift

Browse Nearby Words

sifrei torah
sift
siftage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sift. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

sift

verb
ˈsift How to pronounce sift (audio)
1
a
: to put through a sieve
sift flour
b
: to separate or separate out by or as if by putting through a sieve
2
: to go through especially to sort out what is useful or valuable
sift evidence
sift through a pile of papers
sifter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sift

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sift

Nglish: Translation of sift for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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