Meaning & use
shift dress
Last updated
UK/ˈʃɪft dres/
US/ˈʃɪft dres/
Meaning
nouncountable
A simple, loose dress that hangs straight from the shoulders without a defined waist.
Grammar: Countable: a shift dress, two shift dresses.
Patterns
- wear a shift dress
- a shift dress in a color
She wore a navy shift dress to the interview.
A shift dress is comfortable on hot days.
The shop sells a striped shift dress in several sizes.
Word forms
| plural | shift dresses |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a shift dress
- She likes to wear a shift dress to work.
- a plain shift dress
- A plain shift dress looks good with a bright scarf.
- a linen shift dress
- A linen shift dress is cool in summer.
- a short shift dress
- She chose a short shift dress for the party.
- a black shift dress
- A black shift dress suits many occasions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sheath dress
- A sheath dress fits closely to the body, while a shift dress hangs loose.
- tunic dress
- A tunic dress is a similar loose style but often shorter and more casual.
- A-line dress
- An A-line dress widens gradually toward the hem, while a shift hangs straight.
Opposites
fitted dress
Word family
Commonly confused: shift dress or shirt dress?
shift dress vs shirt dress
A shirt dress has a collar and buttons like a shirt, while a shift dress is a plain straight shape.
Practice
Which dress hangs straight from the shoulders without a defined waist?
Choose one answer.
A shift dress is loose and straight. The other styles all shape the waist.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shift dress”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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