sifting

S1I1F4T1I1N1G2

noun

The act by which something is sifted.

Similar
sievingscreeningscreeningswinnowwinnowing
OriginMiddle English syftynge →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of sift
nounsifting (plural siftings)

plural siftings

  1. The act by which something is sifted.

    Synonyms: sieving, screening

  2. in pluralThe material which falls through a sieve.

    Synonyms: screenings

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe act by which something is sifted.

Similar
sievingscreening

nounThe material which falls through a sieve.

Similar
screenings

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe act of separating grain from chaff

Similar
winnowwinnowing
Broader
separation
Also see
screeningwinnowwinnowing

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishsyftynge
  2. Englishsifting

From Middle English syftynge; equivalent to sift + -ing.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

fisting
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“sifting.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sifting. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sifting,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sifting.

Source: sifting on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.