Meaning & use

switch

noun·Everyday

A small device used to turn an electrical circuit on or off.

See it in a sentence

He flipped the switch, and the whole room suddenly lit up.

The light switch by the door controls the fan as well.

A note on using this word

Switch can also mean a sudden change from one thing to another, as in 'a switch in strategy', extending beyond the physical device.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To change from one thing, position, or state to another.

After years in finance, he switched careers to become a high school teacher.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “switch”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.