switch

SWICH/swɪt͡ʃ/

Verbswitches, switching, switched

Noun pluralswitches

28 meanings of switch

Practice

1
change activityverbintransitive
To move from one place, job, or activity to a different one.
I switch between two jobs each week.
Can we switch to a different game after lunch?
UsageSay switch to a new thing, or switch between two things.
Similarchange, move, transfer, shift
2
on-off buttonnouncountable
A device that turns electricity on or off, or changes where it flows.
Like a gate that opens or closes to let power through.
He flipped the switch to turn on the lights.
The switch by the door controls the fan.
UsageYou flip or press a switch to turn something on or off.
Note
3
verbtransitive
To trade one thing for another.
Let's switch seats so you can see better.
He switched his coffee for tea.
UsageSay switch one thing for another, or switch seats with someone.
Similarswap, exchange, trade
4
verbtransitive
To use a switch to turn something on or off, or to change its setting.
Switch the fan on if it gets too warm.
He switched the TV off and went to sleep.
UsageWith it, put on or off after it: switch it off.
Similarturn
5
nouncountable
A change from one thing to another, or a swap.
He made a quick switch and gave me the red one instead.
The switch from day shift to night shift was hard.
UsageSay a switch from one thing to another.
Similarchange, shift, swap, changeover
Note
6
network devicenouncountable
A device that links several computers so they can share information at the same time.
Like a mail room that sends each letter straight to the right desk.
The office added a new switch to connect all the computers.
All the office computers connect to one switch in the closet.
Note

Less common meanings

7
railroad tracknounPhilippinesUScountable
A moving part of a railroad track that sends a train onto a different track.
Like a fork in a road that points a car one way or the other.
The train slowed as it crossed the switch.
A worker checked the switch before the train passed.
Similarpoints
Note
8
nouncountable
A thin, bendy stick cut from a plant, used as a whip, often to punish someone.
Like a long, thin stick that bends but does not break easily.
Grandpa cut a switch from the bush to discipline the boys.
She bent the thin switch until it nearly snapped.
UsagePeople cut a switch from a tree or bush.
Similarrod, cane, stick
Note
9
move trainsverbtransitive
To move a train from one track onto another.
Like steering a cart onto a different path at a fork.
The crew switched the cars onto a side track.
Workers switch the train off the main line here.
UsageUsed with onto or off. Here switch off means move to another track, not turn off.
Similarshunt
10
telephone systemnouncountable
Equipment that connects one phone line to another so people can talk.
Like an operator who plugs one phone line into another to connect a call.
The phone company replaced the old switch downtown.
When the phone switch broke, nobody in town could make calls.
Similarexchange
Note
11
nouncountable
A part of DNA that turns a gene on or off.
Like a light switch that turns a gene on or off.
Scientists found a switch that turns the gene off.
This tiny switch controls when the cell makes the protein.
UsageOften called a genetic switch or molecular switch.
Note
12
whipverbtransitive
To hit someone with a thin, bendy stick.
She switched the pony lightly to make it walk on.
He would switch the boys when they misbehaved.
Similarwhip, thrash, beat
Note
13
swing quicklyverbtransitive or intransitive
To move something, like a tail, quickly from side to side, or to move that way.
Like waving a stick quickly from side to side.
Cows switch their tails to drive away flies.
Horses switch their tails to chase away flies.
UsageMost often a horse or cow switches its tail.
Similarswing
14
branch in codenouncountable
A part of a computer program that picks what to do based on a value.
Like a menu that does a different thing for each button you press.
The program uses a switch to choose the right menu option.
She wrote a switch to handle each kind of input.
UsageOften called a switch statement.
Note
15
command optionnouncountable
A letter, symbol, or word added to a command to change what it does.
Like a setting you turn on to make a tool work a different way.
Add the -v switch to see more details.
The wrong switch caused the command to fail.
UsageYou add a switch, or run a command with a switch.
Similaroption, flag
Note
16
shift play acrossverbtransitive
To pass the ball across the field from one side to the other.
Like throwing a ball all the way across the yard to a friend on the other side.
Good players switch the ball quickly to spread out the defense.
The midfielder switched the ball to the open winger.
UsageSay switch the ball across the field or to a player.
Similarmove
Note
17
nouncountable
A play that moves the ball from one side of the field to the other.
Like throwing the ball to the empty side where no one is standing.
Her long switch to the other side of the field set up the goal.
The coach called for a switch to the open wing.
Note
18
reversed stanceadjective
In snowboarding or skiing, riding the opposite way from how you normally ride.
Like writing with your other hand: everything feels backward from normal.
He likes to ride switch on the easy slopes.
After months of practice, she can ride switch all the way down the hill.
UsageOften after a verb: ride switch, land a jump switch.
Note
19
gun devicenounslangcountable
A small part added to a handgun that makes it keep firing while the trigger is held.
Like a small part that turns a single-shot toy into one that fires nonstop.
Police said the pistol had a switch attached to it.
Police found a switch attached to the back of the pistol.
UsageIt can also mean the gun itself. Say Glock switch to be clear.
20
lose temperverbslangintransitive
To suddenly become very angry, often without a good reason.
Like a calm dog that suddenly barks and snaps for no clear reason.
He switched the moment someone mentioned his ex.
Don't switch just because the game isn't going your way.
UsagePeople say someone switched over something small. In writing, say snap instead.
Similarsnap, flip
21
both roles (sex)nouncountable
A person who is happy to take either the controlling or the submissive role in a sexual relationship.
Like a player who is happy to be either the captain or just a teammate.
She described herself as a switch when they talked about boundaries.
Several members of the group are switches.
Note
22
false hairnounhistoricalcountable
A bundle of extra hair, or something made to look like hair, that women used to wear on their heads.
Like extra hair that clips on to make your own look longer.
Her grandmother kept a long switch of gray hair in a drawer.
Ladies pinned switches into their hair to make it look fuller.
Similarhairpiece
Note
23
nounslang
A Glock pistol fitted with a special part that makes it keep firing while the trigger is held.
24
verb
To swap roles with your dance partner, so the leader follows and the follower leads.
25
noun
A card game like crazy eights where one special card makes play change direction.
26
noun
A change in which inner identity takes control of the body, in someone who has more than one.
27
verb
To cut something to make it shorter or neater.
Switch and clip thorn and other deciduous hedges.
1811, Walter Nicol, The Planters Kalendar
28
noun
A bundle of sticks for hitting a drum.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of switch apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Maybe from a Middle Dutch word swijch meaning "twig," first seen around 1592.

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Switch may derive from Middle Dutch swijch, meaning “twig.” en.wiktionary.org
The English word switch is first attested around 1592. en.wiktionary.org