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 WebMaryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
Already, dozens of malls have made the switch to include housing.
—Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024
Was that music switch already installed in the car?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
One of the biggest improvements of the Lily 2 is the switch to a standard 14mm quick-release strap.
—PCMAG, 10 Apr. 2024
The data center switch market alone accounts for more than US $10 billion in annual revenue.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024
The switch has been slower in the US, where a fulfillment center in Ohio became the first in the nation to replace plastic delivery packaging with paper alternatives in 2023.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 4 Apr. 2024
Maintaining training runs for AI across so many systems—all connected by wires and switches—is a huge engineering undertaking.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
The 2006 law has lowered emissions through improvements such as vehicles that get better gas mileage, a switch to electric cars and more renewable power.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
Last October, the company switched CEOs, naming board member Weldon Spangler to the top spot.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
And switch to something the Chiefs hadn’t run all year.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The former four-star recruit spent most of his collegiate career at cornerback before switching to free safety last season.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024
Their solution was for the men to switch not just wives but families, with the Kekiches’ daughters, Kristen, 5, and Reagan, 2, joining their mother at Petersons’ house, and the Petersons’ sons, Gregg, 5, and Eric, 2, moving in with Kekich.
—Bruce Weber, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
But the two guys had a bitter falling out, during which Tashi switched her romantic attentions from Patrick to Art.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
The video then switched to footage of a yellow knife on the floor, with blood visible on the blade.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
All three appeared to be heading to the November ballot — a first for a congressional race in California since the state switched to a top-two open primary system in 2012.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Noun
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
Was that music switch already installed in the car?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Apr. 2024
One of the biggest improvements of the Lily 2 is the switch to a standard 14mm quick-release strap.
—PCMAG, 10 Apr. 2024
The data center switch market alone accounts for more than US $10 billion in annual revenue.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024
The switch has been slower in the US, where a fulfillment center in Ohio became the first in the nation to replace plastic delivery packaging with paper alternatives in 2023.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 4 Apr. 2024
Maintaining training runs for AI across so many systems—all connected by wires and switches—is a huge engineering undertaking.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
The 2006 law has lowered emissions through improvements such as vehicles that get better gas mileage, a switch to electric cars and more renewable power.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
Our easiest enchilada recipe ever is a fun way to switch up your dinner routine.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024
Last October, the company switched CEOs, naming board member Weldon Spangler to the top spot.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024
And switch to something the Chiefs hadn’t run all year.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The former four-star recruit spent most of his collegiate career at cornerback before switching to free safety last season.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2024
Their solution was for the men to switch not just wives but families, with the Kekiches’ daughters, Kristen, 5, and Reagan, 2, joining their mother at Petersons’ house, and the Petersons’ sons, Gregg, 5, and Eric, 2, moving in with Kekich.
—Bruce Weber, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
But the two guys had a bitter falling out, during which Tashi switched her romantic attentions from Patrick to Art.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024
The video then switched to footage of a yellow knife on the floor, with blood visible on the blade.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024
All three appeared to be heading to the November ballot — a first for a congressional race in California since the state switched to a top-two open primary system in 2012.
—Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 12 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 19 Apr. 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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