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
Cooking from scratch, for scale One of first pieces of equipment highlighted on the PK tour was a huge lift that can hoist and sift a 2,200-pound bag of flour.
—
Eve Chen, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Throughout his career, Bentley has prioritized lifting up the next generation of artists, sifting through sounds and championing those artists whose music catches his ear.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 13 June 2025
Recommendations that affect insurance coverage The members of ACIP meet at least three times a year to sift through the scientific data on vaccines and determine which ones are recommended for different age groups.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 13 June 2025
Sure, there are thousands of SPF products to sift through, but finding the right sunscreen for your skin tone and type can be tricky.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sift
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eve Chen, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Throughout his career, Bentley has prioritized lifting up the next generation of artists, sifting through sounds and championing those artists whose music catches his ear.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 13 June 2025
Recommendations that affect insurance coverage The members of ACIP meet at least three times a year to sift through the scientific data on vaccines and determine which ones are recommended for different age groups.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 13 June 2025
Sure, there are thousands of SPF products to sift through, but finding the right sunscreen for your skin tone and type can be tricky.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 11 June 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 18 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share