sifted; sifting; sifts
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 throughsift through a pile of old letters
3
: to scatter by or as if by sifting
sift sugar on a cake
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.
The lawyer sifted through the hundreds of pages of testimony.
Firefighters sifted through the debris.
Recent Examples on the Web
Much like a computer sorting its files to run more efficiently, Kincaid sifts through personal memories—both joyful and difficult—and reassembles them with intention.
—
Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Apr. 2025
But though police identified Kappen’s method and had several descriptors of him — his bushy hair, his mustache, his approximate age and the model of his car — the clues proved too broad and, according to the BBC, police were left sifting through a pool of about 35,000 possible suspects.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Instead of forcing users to sift through millions of songs, the platform delivers music users will likely love before searching for it.
Or consider how Nike focuses on storytelling over selling, crafting narratives that make consumers feel part of something bigger.
—Stefan Pollack, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The test was also able to sift those with Alzheimer's from those suffering from dementia from other causes, meaning that treatment options could be more precisely administered.
—New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sift
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Okla Jones, Essence, 12 Apr. 2025
But though police identified Kappen’s method and had several descriptors of him — his bushy hair, his mustache, his approximate age and the model of his car — the clues proved too broad and, according to the BBC, police were left sifting through a pool of about 35,000 possible suspects.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Instead of forcing users to sift through millions of songs, the platform delivers music users will likely love before searching for it.
Or consider how Nike focuses on storytelling over selling, crafting narratives that make consumers feel part of something bigger.
—Stefan Pollack, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
The test was also able to sift those with Alzheimer's from those suffering from dementia from other causes, meaning that treatment options could be more precisely administered.
—New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sift
Cite this Entry
“Sift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sift. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sift
verb1
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
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