sift

[ sift ]

verb (used with object)

1. to separate and retain the coarse parts of (flour, ashes, etc.) with a sieve.
2. to scatter or sprinkle through or by means of a sieve:

   to sift sugar onto cake.

3. to separate by or as if by a sieve.
4. to examine closely:

   The detectives are still sifting the evidence.

   Synonyms: probe, search, inspect, scrutinize, sort

5. to question closely.

verb (used without object)

1. to sift something.
2. to pass or fall through or as if through a sieve.

sift

/ sɪft /

verb

1. tr to sieve (sand, flour, etc) in order to remove the coarser particles
2. to scatter (something) over a surface through a sieve
3. tr to separate with or as if with a sieve; distinguish between
4. tr to examine minutely

   to sift evidence

5. intr to move as if through a sieve

Derived Forms

• ˈsifter, noun

Other Words From

• outsift verb (used with object)
• pre·sift verb (used with object)
• re·sift verb (used with object)
• un·sifted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sift¹

before 900; Middle English siften, Old English siftan; cognate with Dutch, Middle Low German siften; akin to sieve

Word History and Origins

Origin of sift¹

Old English siftan; related to Middle Low German siften to sift, Dutch ziften; see sieve

Example Sentences

As Jensen used a window screen to sift the safe’s ashen contents for diamonds and stones, his wife Dawn DaMart wandered the blackened foundation searching for tokens of the couple’s life before the Mountain fire.

From Los Angeles Times

She visited the site of the house on Thursday afternoon for the first time with a shovel in her hand, sifting through the smoldering ashes looking for anything of sentimental interest.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was a matter of sifting through and figuring out what I needed to complete Johnny’s story.”

From Los Angeles Times

They might be tempted to burn this game footage, to put this behind them, but this is one of those strange games in which they’ll be sifting through the rubble of … a win?

From Los Angeles Times

They then wash, dry and sift through it looking for diamonds until sunset.

From BBC

Related Words

• analyze
• comb
• delve into
• drain
• evaluate
• examine
• explore
• filter
• go through
• investigate
• pore over
• scrutinize
• winnow