distinct, dramatic, fundamental, major, marked, profound, pronounced, radical, significant, substantial | discernible | slight, subtle | gradual | abrupt, sudden | decisive, irreversible, long-term | climate, cultural, demographic, ideological, policy, population

be, represent
These proposals represent a dramatic shift in policy.

bring about, cause, lead to, produce, result in | mark, see
The moment marked a significant shift in attitudes to the war.

detect
I detected a subtle shift towards our point of view.

explain
one factor which may explain the president''s policy shift

occur, take place
These climate shifts occurred over less than a decade.

~ between
the many shifts between verse and prose that occur in Shakespeare

~ (away) from
the shift away from direct taxation

~ in
a shift in public opinion

~ to
a sudden shift to the right in British politics

~ towards
a shift towards part-time farming

double, long, split
I agreed to work double shifts for a few weeks.

day, early, late, night | eight-hour, ten-hour, etc. | afternoon, evening, morning, weekend

be/come/go on, do, work (in) ~s
I''m doing the early shift this week. | I didn''t realize that I''d have to work shifts. | The clinic is staffed by ten doctors who work in shifts.

change (your) ~s
It was 8.00 a.m. and the nurses were changing shifts. | My husband has changed his shifts, from the afternoon shift to the night one.

be/go/come off

work | supervisor, manager, worker | pattern, system
They''d altered his shift pattern twice in the past fortnight.

on a/the ~
a decision for the chief nurse on each shift

slightly
Julie shifted her position slightly and smiled.

impatiently, restlessly, uncomfortably, uneasily
She shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

away

from
She shifted her gaze away from the group of tourists.

onto
He shifted his weight onto his left foot.

to
Her eyes shifted to his face.

shift from foot to foot

dramatically, markedly
The emphasis has shifted markedly in recent years.

slightly | effectively | simply
We cannot simply shift the responsibility onto someone else.

gradually, slowly | rapidly | suddenly | constantly, continually
constantly shifting alliances

attempt to, try to
trying to shift the blame onto the government

tend to | begin to

(away) from
I felt the advantage had suddenly shifted away from us.

onto, to
His sympathies rapidly shifted to the side of the workers.

towards
These changes will shift the balance in higher education more towards science subjects.