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
The device can switch signals at subnanosecond speeds while filtering unwanted frequencies. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 Determining the best fit for your company really comes down to doing the due diligence on the investment line-up and adding or switching to better funds. — Stuart Robertson, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
Going forward, the switch could drive up enrollment by around 2 million accounts per year. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 Where free Avira users just get an on/off switch for Windows Firewall, paying customers receive full two-way firewall protection. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switch
Verb
  • Layer a blazer over a bike short, swap sneakers for loafers, and the shift from Pilates to a corner table happens without a second thought.
    — Zoë Mackay, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Since optical switches aren’t subject to the same amount of degradation as traditional mechanical switches, the representative argued, users won’t need to swap them over time.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Coming for a variety of longtime critics of the merger, opposition rose and suspicion about the settlement served to pour gasoline on an already flicking fire.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Paul Marie flicked a ball off the outside of his foot to Judd, who scored on a volley from the edge of the 6-yard box to give the Earthquakes a 3-0 lead in the 29th.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The teens then ran from law enforcement before being found hiding in a nearby backyard, with one of the suspects being taken into custody with the assistance of a police dog.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Now that raw capability is no longer scarce, the excuse for hiding behind these proxies has quietly disappeared.
    — Vikas Verma, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Every action is decisive and cannot be reversed, just as the film runs ever forward through the projector.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This amendment reverses that; if the City Council doesn’t get to an amendment within 75 days, it’s automatically approved.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Sox move on to Cleveland while the Cubs come home to lick their wounds.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Bombers beat the Red Sox 9-2 in Game 2 after winning the series opening game 9-0, sending New England’s hardball heroes home to lick their wounds until next spring.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Flanagan’s customary whip pans are here to surprise us with characters lurking outside the frame, but this isn’t a story with many external supernatural threats, and tension doesn’t build.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • At snif, shop the fall fragrance collection featuring the Pumpkin Smash candle, body whip and body wash, with notes of pumpkin spice, cinnamon stick, whiskey, brûléed orange, salted maple and roasted chocolate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Small details in the jacket included a breast pocket and hip flap pockets, along with buttons on the cuffs.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • All windows, including those on the front and sides, can be covered with the roll-up window flaps, providing shade and privacy.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The exact lipstick your friend swipes on will not necessarily land the same way on you.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Between your wallet and the coffee shop sit a custodian holding your balance, a program manager running the card, a sponsor bank whose BIN it is issued under, a processor authorizing the swipe and the network that clears it.
    — Shawn Yu, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switch. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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