Synonyms for sift
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To sieve or strain (something).
- v. 2
To separate or scatter (things) as if by sieving.
Forms
- Past participle
- sifted
e.g. sifted → sieved, strained, analyzed, scrutinized…
Example sentences
- search The villagers went in search of the missing child.
- scrutinize We're going to scrutinize everything.
- sort It took quite a while to sort out all our luggage.
- sprinkle Can you sprinkle crushed nuts on top of the cake?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| sift | rising | |
| search | rising | |
| scrutinize | steady | |
| sort | rising | |
| sprinkle | rising | |
| winnow | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- sort1, bolt1
- 5 letters
- study2, argue2, probe1, sieve1
- 6 letters
- search1, screen1, strain1, riddle2, winnow2
- 7 letters
- discuss2, analyze3, analyse, dissect2, canvass2
- 8 letters
- sprinkle2
- 9 letters
- ventilate3, anatomize, anatomise
- 10 letters
- scrutinize3, scrutinise
- 11 letters
- investigate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (study2 = 2 syllables).