sift
Sift (verb) means to pass a dry substance through a sieve to remove lumps or separate fine from coarse. Example: “Sift the flour and baking powder together before mixing.”
How to use sift
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pass through a sieve, or, more broadly, to go carefully through something to find what's useful or true.
Word forms
sifted past tense, sifts plural, sifts singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the flour and baking powder together before mixing.
Etymology
From Old English siftan, an old Germanic verb related to the noun sieve.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sift
See all rhymes for 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.