sift
2 synonyms and 7 antonyms for sift, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To pass a dry substance through a sieve to remove lumps or separate fine from coarse.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To pass a dry substance through a sieve to remove lumps or separate fine from coarse.
“Sift the flour and baking powder together before mixing.”
Opposites
How to use sift
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sift through evidence
sift flour
sift out the truth
Etymology
From Old English siftan, an old Germanic verb related to the noun sieve.
Full origin of sift →Frequently asked questions
What does “sift” mean?
The word “sift” means to pass a dry substance through a sieve to remove lumps or separate fine from coarse. In plain terms, to pass through a sieve, or, more broadly, to go carefully through something to find what's useful or true.
How do you pronounce “sift”?
“Sift” is pronounced sihft (/sɪft/ in IPA).
How do you use “sift” in a sentence?
Here is “sift” used in a sentence: “Sift the flour and baking powder together before mixing.”
What part of speech is “sift”?
“Sift” is a verb.
Where does the word “sift” come from?
The word “sift” comes from Old English. From Old English siftan, an old Germanic verb related to the noun sieve.
How many meanings does “sift” have?
“Sift” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pass a dry substance through a sieve to remove lumps or separate fine from coarse.
