switch

1 of 2

noun

ˈswich 

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

ˈswi-chə-bəl 

adjective

switcher noun

Synonyms of switch

Noun

• whip
• strap

Verb

• swap
• exchange
• change
• trade
• substitute

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

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy and a leading expert on prices at the pump, even sees the switch that’s occurring. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

The switch will officially be thrown Saturday to light up the MS NOW brand (short for My Source for News, Opinion and the World) and officially bid farewell to MSNBC. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025

Verb

That is not typically a broadcast buying window but since switching to long-term, year-round development two years ago, CBS has been leaning heavily into off-cycle orders after a lengthy development process that sometimes includes writers rooms. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025

Some people who lose the extra tax break may still be able to cut costs by switching from a silver plan to a bronze plan, which offers a lower monthly bill but comes with a higher deductible. —Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing switch

• bait and switch
• dimmer switch
• dip switch
• switch engine
• switch-hit
• switch-hitter
• switch knife
• switch off
• switch on
• switch (shifts) with (someone)
• that's a switch
• time switch
• toggle switch

Rhymes for switch

• bitch
• ditch
• fiche
• glitch
• hitch
• ich
• itch
• kitsch
• lich
• mitch
• niche
• pitch

Kids Definition

switch

1 of 2 noun

ˈswich 

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