sift

verb

ˈsift 

sifted; sifting; sifts

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.

The lawyer sifted through the hundreds of pages of testimony.

Firefighters sifted through the debris.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Canadian retailer is notorious for hosting epic sales, but also for the sheer number of picks shoppers have to sift through in SSENSE's vast catalogue of clothes and decor. —Leah Muncy, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024

Add dry ingredients to finish cookie dough: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. —Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2024

What was the process of sifting through all of the songs in his vault and figuring out what belonged on the album? —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2024

Following the search, Trump mounted a separate legal battle that brought the appointment of an independent arbiter to sift through the material seized by the FBI, though the 11th Circuit ordered an end to that review in late 2022. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 26 Nov. 2024

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

Kids Definition

sift

verb

ˈsift 

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