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
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
Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Just that simple switch alone could save you up to 30% in savings just by driving to a different departure city or landing somewhere nearby.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 30 Oct. 2025
Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Repeat several sets, switching directions every 10 steps.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for switch
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Butera first forged a career as a player, where he was selected by the Rays in the 35th round of the 2015 MLB Draft, but quickly made the switch to coaching.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Just that simple switch alone could save you up to 30% in savings just by driving to a different departure city or landing somewhere nearby.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Others who no longer qualify for the tax credits may be able to find more affordable coverage by switching from a silver plan to a bronze plan, Cox said.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Repeat several sets, switching directions every 10 steps.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for switch
Cite this Entry
“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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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