switch 1 of 2

Definition of switchnext
1
as in to swap
to give up (something) and take something else in return switched the real grapes for fake ones switched the day of his flight from Thursday to Friday

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2
as in to flick
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud

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3
4
as in to reverse
to change (as an opinion) to the contrary a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
1
2
as in flick
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down that telltale switch of the cat's tail meant there was a mouse under the piano

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3

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of switch
Verb
Many people switched to cheaper, higher-deductible plans, but average premium payments still rose 58% and deductibles climbed 37%, or more than US$1,000 per person. Aparna Soni, Fortune, 14 July 2026 Around 83% of the Gulf’s LNG exports head to Asia, but the Iran war is changing the market dynamics, prompting importers to cut demand, switch to other suppliers, or turn to other fuels such as coal and nuclear. Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
Noun
And through this simple switch of focus, the experience of watching soccer is totally transformed. Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026 Negative reviews mention aggressive sales tactics, deceptive marketing, bait-and-switch pricing and technicians who never show up for treatments. Dan Simms, USA Today, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switch
Verb
  • In terms of beauty, Zendaya has swapped out her bixie—for now—and worn her XXL hair in undulating waves and twisted crown-like braids.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026
  • Then Anna fails Room 7 and winds up back in Room 8, where Becca swaps the players’ table positions, so Ify reads the win condition as well and leaves.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Kevin Rodriguez eases past Jamal Musiala to flick the ball into the corridor of uncertainty between Manuel Neuer and Jonathan Tah, who had already had a miscommunication earlier in the game.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The action of continuously flicking a typical mouse wheel up and down can be slow and tedious as well difficult to control, even with infinite scroll wheels.
    Shirl Leigh July 12, New Atlas, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • What was the thinking behind hiding this information up until the finale?
    Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • For most of the past century, mathematicians have been exploring the limits of Ramsey theory, the study of order hiding inside chaos—or, more accurately, how much disorder can be packed into a system before order must inevitably emerge.
    Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Under pressure from the community, the city reversed course, notifying the district on June 25 that the project would be subject to the tree protection ordinance and permits would be required.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
  • Thirty years later, the state Supreme Court reversed the convictions and three years after that, the state paid them $25 million to settle their wrongful conviction suit.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • Grande licked one of them, and fans were immediately outraged by the moment.
    Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 July 2026
  • Some of the flames come close to licking the glass, as the wildfire blows across the tracks.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Much more palatable and practical than a brand-new whip, right?
    Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 13 July 2026
  • The Mai Mango is for the fans of tropical drinks, mixing coconut rum, pineapple amaro and amaretto before topping the drink with a coconut-banana whip ($16).
    Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Active cooling flaps adorn the shapely nose, and there’s a jaunty active decklid spoiler.
    Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 15 July 2026
  • Jason was hissing fiercely; Gordon, who projects a monastic calm, was trying to reason with the mother while batting her back each time the flap swung open.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Much like credit card rewards, debit card rewards programs were often fueled by swipe fees, or the total charge a business pays whenever a customer makes a purchase using a credit or debit card.
    Ryley Amond, CNBC, 14 July 2026
  • France’s left-back, on his way from Aston Villa to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, instinctively swivelled and attempted to clear, taking out the incoming Yamal with a swipe through the thigh in the process.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 14 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switch. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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