Meaning & use
toggled
Last updated
“toggled” is a form of “toggle”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitivecomputing
Switched a setting, feature or device from one state to the other, such as on to off, using a single control.
Grammar: Takes an object or stands alone: she toggled the setting, or the display toggled when I pressed it.
Patterns
- toggle something on
- toggle something off
- toggle between something and something
She toggled the dark mode setting on before bed.
He toggled the airplane mode off as soon as the plane landed.
The screen toggled between two views each time I tapped the button.
verbintransitive
Moved back and forth between two things, such as windows, tasks or choices, again and again.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by between: she toggled between her email and the report.
Patterns
- toggle between something and something
Throughout the meeting he toggled between his notes and the chat window.
The translator toggled between English and Spanish without effort.
I toggled between the two maps to compare the routes.
Word forms
| present tense | toggle |
|---|---|
| third person singular | toggles |
| past tense | toggled |
| past participle | toggled |
| -ing form | toggling |
Common combinations
- toggled on
- Location sharing was toggled on without my noticing.
- toggled off
- The notifications are toggled off during class.
- toggled between
- She toggled between three spreadsheets all morning.
- toggled the switch
- He toggled the switch and the lamp went dark.
- toggled the setting
- I toggled the setting back to its default.
Synonyms and how they differ
- switched
- Switched is a broader word for changing anything, while toggled suggests a control that has exactly two states.
- flipped
- Flipped is more physical and informal, as with a light switch, whereas toggled is common for software settings.
- alternated
- Alternated means moving back and forth over time, but it does not imply pressing a control the way toggled does.
- flicked
- Flicked describes a quick light movement of a switch, and it is not used for on-screen settings as often as toggled.
Word family
Commonly confused: toggled or juggled?
toggled vs juggled
Juggled means handled several tasks or objects at once, while toggled means switched between two states.
Practice
She ___ the volume off while the baby slept.
Choose one answer.
Toggled fits because a setting is switched off. Juggled and tackled are different verbs, and toggle is the wrong tense for a past action.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “toggled”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.