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
Jason CiprianiOther features … include: … A software switch that lets you change the side button's function to be either volume mute or orientation lock.—Matt Rosoff
Matt Rosoff6
: a heavy strand of hair used in addition to a person's own hair for some coiffures
switched; switching; switches
1
: to strike or beat with or as if with a switch
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
switcher
noun
Synonyms
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 WebDan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
In describing the project Musk painted a picture of flipping a switch to turn millions of Teslas around the world into self-driving cars.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
That Bednar’s porous, sloppy defense over the last three weeks would flip a switch.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2024
When a carton of a dozen eggs, which is a staple in most Arizonan's refrigerators, can cost up to six dollars at the grocery store, many people are eager to make the switch to a more affordable option.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Students in the Nampa School District will move to a four-day school week beginning next school year, joining a growing number of districts across Idaho that have made the same switch to retain educators and save money.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 17 Apr. 2024
However, free subscribers are limited to just 500MB per month—the same data restriction as TunnelBear's free plan—and do not get access to Avira tech support or the app's kill switch feature.
—PCMAG, 15 Apr. 2024
If your ice maker doesn’t have an accessible On/Off switch, unplug your refrigerator during the cleaning process.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Already, dozens of malls have made the switch to include housing.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Chick-fil-A serves breakfast until 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday before switching over to the lunch menu.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
Dolan originally ran against Bowman, but switched races to take on Ocasio-Cortez.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024
One person who signed her papers was a Republican at that time, Kulkarni has said, but switched her registration to become a Democrat several days before the paperwork was certified by the Secretary of State's office.
—The Courier-Journal, 25 Apr. 2024
New federal rules require carmakers to dramatically reduce their emissions by 2032, effectively forcing them to switch most of their production to EVs.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
Entering its 89th year, the NFL Draft has switched up its format since its inaugural event in 1936.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024
Blitz, switching, being able to be on the one or two option, being able to be the help guy.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Federal regulators on Tuesday enacted a nationwide ban on new noncompete agreements, which keep millions of Americans — from minimum-wage earners to CEOs — from switching jobs within their industries.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024
Noun
Davis scored just two points after the switch — one made basket in the final 22 minutes of action.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
In describing the project Musk painted a picture of flipping a switch to turn millions of Teslas around the world into self-driving cars.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
That Bednar’s porous, sloppy defense over the last three weeks would flip a switch.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2024
When a carton of a dozen eggs, which is a staple in most Arizonan's refrigerators, can cost up to six dollars at the grocery store, many people are eager to make the switch to a more affordable option.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Students in the Nampa School District will move to a four-day school week beginning next school year, joining a growing number of districts across Idaho that have made the same switch to retain educators and save money.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 17 Apr. 2024
However, free subscribers are limited to just 500MB per month—the same data restriction as TunnelBear's free plan—and do not get access to Avira tech support or the app's kill switch feature.
—PCMAG, 15 Apr. 2024
If your ice maker doesn’t have an accessible On/Off switch, unplug your refrigerator during the cleaning process.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Already, dozens of malls have made the switch to include housing.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Verb
Chicago sends a third-round pick, a fourth and a 2018 third to San Francisco to switch and selects quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who started only 13 games for North Carolina.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Chick-fil-A serves breakfast until 10:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday before switching over to the lunch menu.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
Dolan originally ran against Bowman, but switched races to take on Ocasio-Cortez.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2024
One person who signed her papers was a Republican at that time, Kulkarni has said, but switched her registration to become a Democrat several days before the paperwork was certified by the Secretary of State's office.
—The Courier-Journal, 25 Apr. 2024
New federal rules require carmakers to dramatically reduce their emissions by 2032, effectively forcing them to switch most of their production to EVs.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024
Entering its 89th year, the NFL Draft has switched up its format since its inaugural event in 1936.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024
Blitz, switching, being able to be on the one or two option, being able to be the help guy.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Federal regulators on Tuesday enacted a nationwide ban on new noncompete agreements, which keep millions of Americans — from minimum-wage earners to CEOs — from switching jobs within their industries.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 24 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near switch
Cite this Entry
“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
switch
1 of 2 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
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