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Shift vs. Move — What's the Difference?

Shift vs. Move — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Shift and Move

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Shift

Move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance
A team from the power company came to shift the cables away from the house
The roof cracked and shifted

Move

To change in position from one point to another
Moved away from the window.

Shift

Change gear in a vehicle
She shifted down to fourth

Move

To follow a specified course
Earth moves around the sun.

Shift

Be evasive or indirect
They know not how to shift and rob as the old ones do
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Move

To change posture or position; stir
Too scared to move.

Shift

A slight change in position, direction, or tendency
A shift in public opinion

Move

To start off; depart
After waiting for an hour, we decided it was time to move.

Shift

Each of two or more recurring periods in which different groups of workers do the same jobs in relay
Anne was on the night shift

Move

(Games) To change position on a board in a board game.

Shift

A woman's straight unwaisted dress.

Move

To go from one residence or location to another; relocate
We moved to a new apartment.

Shift

An ingenious or devious device or stratagem
The thousand shifts and devices of which Hannibal was a master

Move

(Linguistics) To be copied or moved by means of a movement transformation to a new position in syntactic structure.

Shift

To exchange (one thing) for another of the same class
Shifted assignments among the students.

Move

To progress in sequence; go forward
A novel that moves slowly.

Shift

To move or transfer from one place or position to another.

Move

To progress toward a particular state or condition
Moving up in the company.
Move on to a new subject.

Shift

To alter (position or place).

Move

To be disposed of by sale
Woolens move slowly in the summer.

Shift

To change (gears), as in an automobile.

Move

To be put in motion or to turn according to a prescribed motion. Used of machinery.

Shift

(Linguistics) To alter phonetically as part of a systematic historical change.

Move

To exhibit great activity or energy
Things were really moving backstage.

Shift

To change position, direction, place, or form.

Move

To initiate an action; act
It's time to make a decision and move.

Shift

To provide for one's own needs; get along
"See me safe up.

Move

To be active in a particular environment
Moves in diplomatic circles.

Shift

To get along by tricky or evasive means.

Move

To stir the emotions
Words that have the power to move.

Shift

To change gears, as when driving an automobile.

Move

To make a formal motion in parliamentary procedure
Move for an adjournment.

Shift

(Linguistics) To be altered as part of a systematic historical change. Used of speech sounds.

Move

To evacuate. Used of the bowels.

Shift

To use a shift key.

Move

To change the place or position of
Moved the chair into the corner.
Could not move his arm.

Shift

A change from one person or configuration to another; a substitution.

Move

To cause to go from one place to another
Moved the crowd away.

Shift

A group of workers that relieve another on a regular schedule.

Move

(Games) To change (a piece) from one position to another in a board game
Moved a pawn.

Shift

The working period of such a group
Worked the night shift.

Move

To change the course of
Moved the discussion to other matters.

Shift

A means to an end; an expedient.

Move

To cause to progress or advance
Moved the research into new thinking.

Shift

A stratagem; a trick.

Move

To dislodge from a fixed point of view, as by persuasion
"Speak to him, ladies, see if you can move him" (Shakespeare).

Shift

A change in direction
A shift in the wind.

Move

To prompt to action; rouse
Anger moved her to speak out.

Shift

A change in attitude, judgment, or emphasis.

Move

To arouse the emotions of; affect or stir.

Shift

(Music) A change of the hand position in playing the violin or a similar instrument.

Move

To cause to function
This lever moves the elevator.

Shift

(Football) A rearrangement of players from one formation to another just prior to the snap of the ball.

Move

To cause to progress or advance
Moved the project beyond conventional thinking.

Shift

(Baseball) A rearrangement of one or more fielders for improved defense against a particular hitter.

Move

To propose or request in formal parliamentary procedure
Moved that a vote be taken.

Shift

(Geology) See fault.

Move

To make formal application to (a court, for example).

Shift

(Computers) Movement of characters in a register to the left or right, as of the bits in a byte.

Move

To dispose of by sale
Moved the new merchandise quickly.

Shift

The act or an instance of using a shift key.

Move

To cause (the bowels) to evacuate.

Shift

(Physics) A change in wavelength, causing a movement of a spectral band or line.

Move

The act or an instance of moving.

Shift

A systematic change of the phonetic or phonemic structure of a language.

Move

A particular manner of moving
Made some intricate moves on the dance floor.

Shift

Functional shift.

Move

A change of residence or location.

Shift

A loosely fitting dress that hangs straight from the shoulder; a chemise.

Move

An act of transferring a piece from one position to another in board games.

Shift

A woman's undergarment; a slip or chemise.

Move

The prescribed manner in which a piece may be played.

Shift

(historical) A type of women's undergarment of dress length worn under dresses or skirts, a slip or chemise.
Just last week she bought a new shift at the market.

Move

A participant's turn to make a play.

Shift

A simple straight-hanging, loose-fitting dress.

Move

An action taken to achieve an objective; a maneuver
A move to halt the arms race.

Shift

A change of workers, now specifically a set group of workers or period of working time.
We'll work three shifts a day till the job's done.

Move

(intransitive) To change place or posture; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another.
A ship moves rapidly.
I was sitting on the sofa for a long time, feeling too lazy to move.

Shift

An act of shifting; a slight movement or change.
There was a shift in the political atmosphere.

Move

(intransitive) To act; to take action; to begin to act
To move in a matter
Come on guys, let's move: there's work to do!

Shift

(US) The gear mechanism in a motor vehicle.
Does it come with a stick-shift?

Move

(intransitive) To change residence, for example from one house, town, or state, to another; to go and live at another place. See also move out and move in.
I decided to move to the country for a more peaceful life.
They moved closer to work to cut down commuting time.
I'm moving next week but I don't have anything packed yet.
The rook moved from a8 to a6.
My opponent's counter was moving much quicker round the board than mine.

Shift

Alternative spelling of Shift.
If you press shift-P, the preview display will change.

Move

To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another
The waves moved the boat up and down.
The horse moves a carriage.

Shift

(computing) A control code or character used to change between different character sets.

Move

To transfer (a piece) from one space or position on the board to another.
She moved the queen closer to the centre of the board.
He rolled a 5 and moved his counter to Boardwalk, the most expensive property on the Monopoly board.

Shift

(computing) An instance of the use of such a code or character.

Move

(transitive) To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence.
This song moves me to dance.

Shift

(computing) A bit shift.

Move

(transitive) To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion, to excite (for example, an emotion).
That book really moved me.

Shift

(baseball) An infield shift.
Teams often use a shift against this lefty.

Move

To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit
I move to repeal the rule regarding obligatory school uniform.

Shift

The act of kissing passionately.

Move

To mention; to raise (a question); to suggest (a course of action); to lodge (a complaint).

Shift

(archaic) A contrivance, a device to try when other methods fail.

Move

To incite, urge (someone to do something); to solicit (someone for or of an issue); to make a proposal to.

Shift

(archaic) A trick, an artifice.

Move

To apply to, as for aid.

Shift

(construction) The extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.

Move

To request an action from the court.
An attorney moved the court to issue a restraining order.
The district attorney moved for a non-suit.

Shift

(mining) A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault.

Move

To bow or salute upon meeting.

Shift

(genetics) A mutation in which the DNA or RNA from two different sources (such as viruses or bacteria) combine.

Move

To sell or market (especially physical inventory or illicit drugs).
This business will fail if it can't move the inventory quickly.

Shift

(music) In violin-playing, any position of the left hand except that nearest the nut.

Move

The act of moving; a movement.
A slight move of the tiller, and the boat will go off course.

Shift

A period of time in which one's consciousness resides in another reality, usually achieved through meditation or other means.

Move

An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose.
He made another move towards becoming a naturalized citizen.

Shift

To move from one place to another; to redistribute.
We'll have to shift these boxes to the downtown office.

Move

A formalized or practiced action used in athletics, dance, physical exercise, self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, etc.
She always gets spontaneous applause for that one move.
He can win a match with that one move.

Shift

To change in form or character; swap.

Move

The event of changing one's residence.
The move into my fiancé's house took two long days.
They were pleased about their move to the country.

Shift

(intransitive) To change position.
She shifted slightly in her seat.
His political stance shifted daily.

Move

A change in strategy.
I am worried about our boss's move.
It was a smart move to bring on a tall striker to play against the smaller defenders.

Shift

To change residence; to leave and live elsewhere.
We are shifting to America next month.

Move

A transfer, a change from one employer to another.

Shift

To change (clothes, especially underwear).

Move

(board games) The act of moving a token on a gameboard from one position to another according to the rules of the game.
The best move of the game was when he sacrificed his rook in order to gain better possession.
It's your move! Roll the dice!
If you roll a six, you can make two moves.

Shift

To change (someone's) clothes; sometimes specifically, to change underwear.

Move

A round, in which each player has a turn.
You can win in three moves if you do that.

Shift

(intransitive) To change gears (in a car).
I crested the hill and shifted into fifth.

Move

To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another; to impel; to stir; as, the wind moves a vessel; the horse moves a carriage.

Shift

(typewriters) To move the keys of a typewriter over in order to type capital letters and special characters.

Move

To transfer (a piece or man) from one space or position to another on a playing board, according to the rules of the game; as, to move a king.

Shift

(computer keyboards) To switch to a character entry mode for capital letters and special characters.

Move

To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence.
Minds desirous of revenge were not moved with gold.
No female arts his mind could move.

Shift

To manipulate a binary number by moving all of its digits left or right; compare rotate.
Shifting 1001 to the left yields 10010; shifting it right yields 100.

Move

To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion; to touch pathetically; to excite, as an emotion.
When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them.
[The use of images] in orations and poetry is to move pity or terror.

Shift

To remove the first value from an array.

Move

To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit, as a resolution to be adopted; as, to move to adjourn.
Let me but move one question to your daughter.
They are to be blamed alike who move and who decline war upon particular respects.

Shift

(transitive) To dispose of.
How can I shift a grass stain?

Move

To apply to, as for aid.

Shift

(intransitive) To hurry; to move quickly.
If you shift, you might make the 2:19.

Move

To change place or posture; to stir; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another; as, a ship moves rapidly.
The foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
On the green bank I sat and listened long, . . . Nor till her lay was ended could I move.

Shift

To engage in sexual petting.

Move

To act; to take action; to stir; to begin to act; as, to move in a matter.

Shift

(archaic) To resort to expedients for accomplishing a purpose; to contrive; to manage.

Move

To change residence; to remove, as from one house, town, or state, to another.

Shift

To practice indirect or evasive methods.

Move

To change the place of a piece in accordance with the rules of the game.

Shift

(music) In violin-playing, to move the left hand from its original position next to the nut.

Move

The act of moving; a movement.

Shift

To change the reality one's consciousness resides in through meditation or other means.
I finally shifted to Hogwarts last night!

Move

The act of moving one of the pieces, from one position to another, in the progress of the game; also, the opportunity or obligation to so move a piece; one's turn; as, you can only borrow from the bank in Monopoly when it's your move.

Shift

To divide; to distribute; to apportion.
To which God of his bounty would shiftCrowns two of flowers well smelling.

Move

An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose.

Shift

To change the place of; to move or remove from one place to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to another; to shift the blame.
Hastily he schifte him[self].
Pare saffron between the two St. Mary's days,Or set or go shift it that knowest the ways.

Move

The act of deciding to do something;
He didn't make a move to help
His first move was to hire a lawyer

Shift

To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails.
Carrying the oar loose, [they] shift it hither and thither at pleasure.

Move

The act of changing your residence or place of business;
They say that three moves equal one fire

Shift

To exchange for another of the same class; to remove and to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to shift the clothes; to shift the scenes.
I would advise you to shift a shirt.

Move

A change of position that does not entail a change of location;
The reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
Movement is a sign of life
An impatient move of his hand
Gastrointestinal motility

Shift

To change the clothing of; - used reflexively.
As it were to ride day and night; and . . . not to have patience to shift me.

Move

The act of changing location from one place to another;
Police controlled the motion of the crowd
The movement of people from the farms to the cities
His move put him directly in my path

Shift

To put off or out of the way by some expedient.
Shift the scene for half an hour;Time and place are in thy power.

Move

(game) a player's turn to move a piece or take some other permitted action

Shift

To divide; to distribute.
Some this, some that, as that him liketh shift.

Move

Change location; move, travel, or proceed;
How fast does your new car go?
We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus
The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect
The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell

Shift

To make a change or changes; to change position; to move; to veer; to substitute one thing for another; - used in the various senses of the transitive verb.
The sixth age shiftsInto the lean and slippered pantaloon.
Here the Baillie shifted and fidgeted about in his seat.

Move

Cause to move, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense;
Move those boxes into the corner, please
I'm moving my money to another bank
The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant

Shift

To resort to expedients for accomplishing a purpose; to contrive; to manage.
Men in distress will look to themselves, and leave their companions to shift as well as they can.

Move

Move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion;
He moved his hand slightly to the right

Shift

To practice indirect or evasive methods.
All those schoolmen, though they were exceeding witty, yet better teach all their followers to shift, than to resolve by their distinctions.

Move

Change residence, affiliation, or place of employment;
We moved from Idaho to Nebraska
The basketball player moved from one team to another

Shift

To slip to one side of a ship, so as to destroy the equilibrum; - said of ballast or cargo; as, the cargo shifted.

Move

Follow a procedure or take a course;
We should go farther in this matter
She went through a lot of trouble
Go about the world in a certain manner
Messages must go through diplomatic channels

Shift

The act of shifting.
My going to Oxford was not merely for shift of air.
I 'll find a thousand shifts to get away.
Little souls on little shifts rely.

Move

Be in a state of action;
She is always moving

Shift

Something frequently shifted; especially, a woman's under-garment; a chemise.

Move

Go or proceed from one point to another;
The debate moved from family values to the economy

Shift

The change of one set of workmen for another; hence, a spell, or turn, of work; also, a set of workmen who work in turn with other sets; as, a night shift.

Move

Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action);
Think before you act
We must move quickly
The governor should act on the new energy bill
The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel

Shift

In building, the extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.

Move

Have an emotional or cognitive impact upon;
This child impressed me as unusually mature
This behavior struck me as odd

Shift

A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault.

Move

Give an incentive for action;
This moved me to sacrifice my career

Shift

A change of the position of the hand on the finger board, in playing the violin.
[They] made a shift to keep their own in Ireland.

Move

Arouse sympathy or compassion in;
Her fate moved us all

Shift

An event in which something is displaced without rotation

Move

Dispose of by selling;
The chairman of the company told the salesmen to move the computers

Shift

A qualitative change

Move

Progress by being changed;
The speech has to go through several more drafts
Run through your presentation before the meeting

Shift

The time period during which you are at work

Move

Live one's life in a specified environment;
She moves in certain circles only

Shift

The act of changing one thing or position for another;
His switch on abortion cost him the election

Move

Have a turn; make one's move in a game;
Can I go now?

Shift

The act of moving from one place to another;
His constant shifting disrupted the class

Move

Propose formally; in a debate or parliamentary meeting

Shift

(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other;
They built it right over a geological fault

Shift

A group of workers who work for a specific period of time

Shift

A woman's sleeveless undergarment

Shift

A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist

Shift

Make a shift in or exchange of;
First Joe led; then we switched

Shift

Change place or direction;
Shift one's position

Shift

Move around;
Transfer the packet from his trouser pockets to a pocket in his jacket

Shift

Move very slightly;
He shifted in his seat

Shift

Move from one setting or context to another;
Shift the emphasis
Shift one's attention

Shift

Change in quality;
His tone shifted

Shift

Move and exchange for another;
Shift the date for our class reunion

Shift

Move sideways or in an unsteady way;
The ship careened out of control

Shift

Move abruptly;
The ship suddenly lurched to the left

Shift

Use a shift key on a keyboard;
She could not shift so all ther letters are written in lower case

Shift

Change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change;
Grimm showed how the consonants shifted

Shift

Change gears;
You have to shift when you go down a steep hill

Shift

Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another;
Switch to a different brand of beer
She switched psychiatrists
The car changed lanes

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