shifter

noun

shift·​er ˈshif-tər How to pronounce shifter (audio)
: one that shifts
especially : gearshift

Examples of shifter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Transmission: Pilot has a 10 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2025 Brianne Gillen’s novella, My Favorite Leopard, combines the glamor of Old Hollywood with a romance between actress/shifter Lina Leonard and animal trainer Tony Benson. Maureen Lee Lenker, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025 Likewise, the seven-speed DSG gearbox shifts smoothly and responds promptly to downshifts via the paddle shifters. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 Like qubits, photons can be entangled—connected in a uniquely quantum way that’s useful for computation—by passing them through devices such as resonators and phase shifters. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shifter

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shifter was in 1571

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shifter. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

shifter

noun
shift·​er ˈshif-tər How to pronounce shifter (audio)
: one that shifts
especially : gearshift
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!