switch

²switch

verb

Definition of SWITCH

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 (as 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

— switch·able \ˈswi-chə-bəl\ adjective

— switch·er noun

Examples of SWITCH

1. I switched to a new doctor.
2. He kept switching back and forth between topics.
3. She switched back to her original insurance company.
4. We switched over to a different telephone service.
5. Why did you switch jobs?

First Known Use of SWITCH

circa 1611

Related to SWITCH

Synonyms: commute, exchange, shift, substitute, swap, change, trade

Related Words: interchange; displace, replace, supersede; cede, hand over, surrender, yield; reciprocate

Near Antonyms: maintain, support, uphold

see all synonyms and antonyms

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