switch

1 of 2

noun

plural switches
1
: a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig
a riding switch
2
: an act of switching: such as
a
: a blow with a switch
b
: a shift from one to another
c
: a change from the usual
that outfit is a switch
3
: a tuft of long hairs at the end of the tail of an animal (such as a cow) see cow illustration
4
: a device made usually of two movable rails and necessary connections and designed to turn a locomotive or train from one track to another
5
a
: a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit
b
: a software icon that is used to select between one of usually two available states
Tap Edit and then toggle the switch next to each supported service to the appropriate setting.Jason Cipriani
Other features … include: … A software switch that lets you change the side button's function to be either volume mute or orientation lock.Matt Rosoff
6
: a heavy strand of hair used in addition to a person's own hair for some coiffures

switch

2 of 2

verb

switched; switching; switches

transitive verb

1
: to strike or beat with or as if with a switch
2
: whisk, lash
a cat switching its tail
3
a(1)
: to turn from one railroad track to another : shunt
(2)
: to move (cars) to different positions on the same track within terminal areas
b
: to make a shift in or exchange of
switch seats
4
a
: to shift to another electrical circuit by means of a switch
b(1)
: to operate an electrical switch so as to turn (a device) on or off
usually used with on or off
(2)
: to change to or from an active state
usually used with on or off
switched on the gene

intransitive verb

1
: to lash from side to side
2
: to make a shift or exchange
switchable adjective
switcher noun

Examples of switch in a Sentence

Noun She flicked a switch and turned the lamp on. He threw the switch to stop the machine. Verb I switched to a new doctor. He kept switching back and forth between topics. She switched back to her original insurance company. We switched over to a different telephone service. Why did you switch jobs?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Smiling and laughing, the happy couple poses with both their kids before the video switches to Shai running around outside with blue balloons. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 Defensively, he’s already been a top shot-blocker, and he’s shown the ability to handle perimeter switches. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 But the astronauts’ mishandling of switches during descent allowed a noxious gas to enter their chamber, affecting the lungs of all three crewmen and resulting in their brief hospitalization upon landing. Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Pacific time is not static and switches according to the time change. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 Early government investment in charging infrastructure went a long way toward soothing the range anxiety that made car buyers in other places reluctant to make the switch to battery power from gasoline or diesel. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2024 The keyboard also features hot-swappable Kailh Box White V2 switches and multiple connectivity modes, with support for Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless via a dongle. Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 16 Mar. 2024 On Friday, Washington marked its last work day of the cold-weather season before the switch. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 These include lighting, plugs and switches, thermostats, locks, security and environment sensors, refrigerators, dishwashers, smoke alarms, air quality monitors, and more. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Alu is also part of a class known as jumping genes, which are genetic sequences capable of switching their location in the genome and triggering or undoing mutations. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 From a trapping 1-3-1 zone to 2-3 zone to an extended 1-2-2 press to switching man to straight man. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 There was a car in front of him going 30 mph in a 60 mph zone, and Riker switched lanes to pass when disaster struck. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2024 Genesee County initially made its deal with Securus but switched to Global Tel*Link in 2018 for a better deal, a contract that remains in effect, according to that lawsuit. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2024 In a lawsuit over its App Store policies that Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, brought in 2020, Apple persuaded the judge that customers could easily switch between its iPhone operating system and Google’s Android system. Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 There are various strategies for switching to a new password manager, but the easiest way is to import from your existing collection. PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024 Their prototypes fundamentally work like existing ACs, but use refrigerants with lower global warming potential and are able to switch between operating modes depending on the outside weather conditions. Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024 Don’t be afraid to think outside the coloring book, as switch to colors out of the norm. David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'switch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch twig

First Known Use

Noun

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of switch was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near switch

Cite this Entry

“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

switch

1 of 2 noun
1
: a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig
2
: an act or an instance of switching
3
: a bunch of long hairs at the end of the tail of an animal (as a cow)
4
: a device made usually of two movable rails and necessary connections and designed to turn a train or streetcar from one track to another
5
: a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit

switch

2 of 2 verb
1
: to strike or whip with or as if with a switch
2
: to lash from side to side
3
: to turn, shift, or change by or as if by operating a switch
switch off the light
switched to a different channel
4
: to change one for another : exchange
switch seats
switcher noun

More from Merriam-Webster on switch

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