Definition

A part of a vehicle that allows the driver to change gears in the transmission system, helping to control the speed and power of the vehicle.

Example

He shifted into a higher gear using the gearshift to accelerate on the highway.

Conversation

Did you see how smooth my car's gearshift was yesterday?

Yeah, it looked really nice when you drove by!

I just had it serviced, and they fixed the gearshift perfectly.

That's awesome! It's always great when things run smoothly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gearshift → It is formed from "gear" (from Old English *gier*, meaning a mechanism for transmitting power) and "shift" (from Old English *scyftan*, meaning to change or move). The word "gearshift" refers to the mechanism that changes the gears in a vehicle.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'mechanism for transmitting power' ('gear') that you 'change' ('shift') to control a vehicle's speed.

Visually Confused Words