put (a fine or loose substance) through a sieve so as to remove lumps or large particles

sift the flour into a large bowl

examine (something) thoroughly so as to isolate that which is most important

until we sift the evidence ourselves, we can't comment objectively

the fourth stage involves sifting through the data and evaluating it

an act of sifting something, especially so as to isolate that which is most important

a careful archaeological sift must be made through the debris