left shift

noun

A bit shift to the left, in which all of the bits of an operand are shifted by a given number of positions to the left.

Opposite
right shift
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Meanings

nounleft shift (plural left shifts)

plural left shifts · alternative left-shift

  1. computingA bit shift to the left, in which all of the bits of an operand are shifted by a given number of positions to the left.
  2. computingThe left shift operator; often given as << or <<<.
verbleft shift (third-person singular simple present left shifts, present participle left shifting, simple past and past participle left shifted)

present singular third person left shifts · participle present left shifting · participle past left shifted · past left shifted · alternative left-shift

  1. computingTo perform a left shift bitwise operation.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
right shift
Cite this entry
APA

left shift. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/left%20shift

MLA

“left shift.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/left%20shift. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “left shift,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/left%20shift.

Source: left shift on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.