switch
noun
\ ˈswich
\
\
plural switches
Definition of switch
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
5a
: 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
verb
switched;
switching;
switches
Definition of switch (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to strike or beat with or as if with a switch
3a(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
4a
: 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
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Other Words from switch
Verb
switchable
\ ˈswi-chə-bəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
switcher
noun
Synonyms for switch
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
change, commute, exchange, shift, substitute, swap, trade
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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
Davis, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento after hitting 35 homers in the minors, played right field and went 1-for-3 — his first at-bat produced his first hit, an infield single — before exiting in a double switch. — John Shea, SFChronicle.com, "Giants outslug Cards 9-8, Jaylin Davis debuts on wild night in St. Louis," 5 Sep. 2019 Bell: Converted to defensive end after playing wide receiver while in college at Prairie View A&M, Bell (6-foot-4, 253 pounds) is remaking himself as an edge rusher and has displayed raw ability in that switch. — Jerry Mcdonald, The Mercury News, "Raiders bring back seven to practice squad, three newcomers," 2 Sep. 2019 Guests have reported positive feedback from the 1,000 properties who have already made the switch, the release notes. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, "Marriott to Get Rid of Travel-Size Toiletries in All Hotel Rooms: Here's What to Expect Instead," 29 Aug. 2019 All toiletries in the company's more than 7,000 hotels, in more than 130 countries, will be bulk-size by December 2020—with many brands making the switch by July 2020. — Louis Cheslaw, Condé Nast Traveler, "Marriott International, the World's Largest Hotel Chain, Is Banning Small Toiletries by 2020," 28 Aug. 2019 Are soccer moms going to make the switch from kombucha to hard coffee in their water bottles? — Lisa Futterman, chicagotribune.com, "PBR for breakfast? New hard coffee offers a different kind of buzz — and nails it," 27 Aug. 2019 Many taxi and chauffeur services have already gone electric, but not all private car owners can afford to make the switch. — Stephanie Bailey And Lidz-ama Appiah, CNN, "How Amsterdam plans to power a city of electric cars," 26 Aug. 2019 But in a sudden switch a few days before the spacewalk, NASA scrapped McCain’s role, explaining that there were not enough suits available in the two women’s size. — Mike Baker, BostonGlobe.com, "Did an astronaut commit an earthly crime from the International Space Station?," 24 Aug. 2019 Edwards was a receiver last year, but as one of the best athletes in the team, Denison wants the ball more in his hands and thus made the switch. — David J. Kim, The Courier-Journal, "3 things to know about Floyd Central, Jeffersonville, New Albany and Providence football," 19 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Yet beginning in 2017, New Jersey switched its water-testing requirements, forcing some cities to test twice a year for contaminants instead of once every three years. — Nick Corasaniti, BostonGlobe.com, "Tainted water, ignored warnings, and a boss with a criminal past in Newark," 24 Aug. 2019 Franklin switched to wide receiver during spring practice in 2017 and caught four passes in the A-Day Game. — Mark Inabinett | [email protected], al, "John Franklin III aims ‘to make the 53’ in Chicago," 24 Aug. 2019 Three-and-out: A few years ago, the Wildcats switched from a 4-3 defensive alignment to a 3-4. — Jon J. Kerr, chicagotribune.com, "Pioneer Press 2019 football preview: Libertyville Wildcats," 23 Aug. 2019 Some who developed a cough while on the polypill were switched to another version that substituted one of the four drugs. — Washington Post, "Cheap combo pill cuts heart, stroke risks, study finds," 23 Aug. 2019 The rituals that people of color undergo — the code-switching, white face and double consciousness — and the stress and anxiety these things provoke in black people become the topics of the middle gallery. — Dallas News, "A Dallas art gallery examines identity in 'How It Looks To Be You In Egyptian Cotton'," 23 Aug. 2019 Players can switch out skills and Daemons themselves to create a mix of four that can handle various situations. — Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, "Review: A critical disconnect hamstrings potential of ‘Oninaki’," 23 Aug. 2019 Hip-hop/R&B producer and label executive Mustard is switching over to ASCAP, the performing rights organization announced today (Aug. 22). — Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard, "'Boo'd Up' Producer and 10 Summers Label Exec Mustard Moves to ASCAP," 22 Aug. 2019 After Hertz in turn was bought out by RCA, Menendez switched to the parent company’s record division and was soon involved in signing pop groups, including Duran Duran and the Eurythmies. — Steve Helling, PEOPLE.com, "30 Years After the Menendez Brothers Murders, Read PEOPLE's 1990 Cover Story," 20 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'switch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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