Sift Meaning
/sɪft/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo sieve or strain (something).
verbTo separate or scatter (things) as if by sieving.
Sentence Examples
If you sift through barrels of dirt, you may eventually find a flake of gold.
Did you sift the flour before you made the cookie batter?
Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The chef had to ____ the flour to get rid of any small lumps.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ the dry ingredients together to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English syften, from Old English siftan, from Proto-West Germanic *siftijan.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"As neere as I could ſift him on that argument,
On ſome apparant danger ſeene in him,
Aym‘d at your Highneſſe, no inueterate malice."
— 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 1:
"But if we still carry on our sifting humour, and ask, What is the foundation of all conclusions from experience ? this implies a new question."
— 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 28:
"It immediately occurred to him to sift her on the subject of Isabella and Theodore."
— 1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, Strawberry Hill Press:
"“I fear that there is something more serious than accident here, Mr. Brently,” said the captain. “I wish that you would make a personal and very careful examination of Mr. Caldwell’s effects, to ascertain if there is any clew to a motive either for suicide or murder—sift the thing to the bottom.”"
— 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 108:
"Never, he said, in the course of his long experience, had he known a charge of murder rest on slighter evidence. Not only was it entirely circumstantial, but the greater part of it was practically unproved. Let them take the testimony they had heard and sift it impartially."
— 1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 162:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The chef had to ____ the flour to get rid of any small lumps.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ the dry ingredients together to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.