sifting through
Searching piece by piece
Sifting through is examining a quantity of material carefully, separating what's useful from what isn't—like passing flour through a sieve.
The phrase usually applies to information, evidence, or accumulated stuff: We spent hours sifting through old photos, Investigators are still sifting through the wreckage.
It implies patience and methodical attention.
- lookingUsing eyes to observe
- reviewingExamining something again
- searchingLooking to find
- checkingAct of verification
- siftingSeparating by particle size
considering · filtering · winnowing · weeding out · straining · examining · poring over · exploring · rummaging · uncovering · discerning · needle in haystack · flipping · perusing · choosing · sorting · sorting out · selecting
- assessmentevaluating, test, analyzing, exam, assessing
sifting throughignoring
Deliberately not noticing
skimming · glossing over · overlooking · disregarding · passing over
sifting throughskimming
Passing lightly over
glossing over · quick glance · cursory look · browsing · speed-reading