switch 1 of 2

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

switch

2 of 2

noun

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
As the late afternoon banter switched between talk of CIA plots to assassinate Castro and President Kennedy’s failure to provide air cover during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, one retiree stood up and quietly stepped away from his friends. Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025 The first sign that his tour might excite the public came on the opening day, in Omaha, where the organizers switched venues to accommodate a rush of attendees and still had to turn hundreds more away. Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Noun
Jana used to live in a house where water came from a tap and light appeared with the flick of a switch. Tareq Al Hilou, CNN Money, 21 May 2025 The fact that Lionel would follow him there for love alone signals a switch in their relationship, where worldly David has become the cautious one and Lionel the one who knows his mind and stays firm. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switch
Verb
  • Ayers is a pilot, and previously flew F-22s in the U.S. Air Force before swapping out jets for rockets, after being selected for NASA Astronaut Group 23 in 2021.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
  • To correct this, swap the middle screw with a 3-inch screw.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • With it, of course, comes a fair share of big budget popcorn flicks, as well as a collection of curious smaller movies that may just capture the cultural conversation.
    Dan Heching, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
  • Once the puck was on its way, Aho seemed to flick his heel backward for good measure.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
  • Ukraine was able to smuggle drones deep into Russia by hiding them in the tops of flatbed trucks, which parked near military bases before the drones lifted off to attack planes on the runway.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • Rearview cameras reduce reversing crash rates, says the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, thus a sudden loss of rearview camera accessibility could increase reversing crash rates.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 5 June 2025
  • But the jury is still out whether the green transition can be stopped or reversed.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • But Fahy, Alcock, and director Nicole Kassell are also very good at their jobs, and so even downright bizarre moments like Simone chewing Michaela’s used gum or Devon randomly licking a landscaper’s neck wind up making a strange sort of sense.
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 22 May 2025
  • Jose shrugs, pleads with her to not lick anyone at the inn, and leaves.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • The captain, eager to crack a whip, joins the guests dressed as ringmaster, matching primary Rebecca.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 May 2025
  • However, Schatz has emerged as a favorite after volunteering to pick up some of the whip’s duties in helping to manage the floor.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Just seconds into the catchy song, Frankel threw the flaps back, revealing a mostly gold, multicolor, strappy push-up bikini with elements of black and pink.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 30 May 2025
  • Initially, the distance between the flap and mainplane couldn’t vary more than 2mm when 75kg of vertical load was applied to the rear wing.
    Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • As artificial intelligence redefines human interactions, one question persists with scientific urgency and cultural weight: What happens to the brain's romantic blueprint when intimacy is filtered through screens, swipes and simulations?
    Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Even as more Americans tap, swipe or scan to pay, most still carry at least a little cash — and financial planners say that’s a good idea.
    Mike Winters, CNBC, 25 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switch. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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