"switch" meaning in English

See switch in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /swɪtʃ/ Audio: en-us-switch.ogg [US] Forms: switch [singular], switches [plural]
enPR: swĭch Head templates: {{noun|2=switches}} [POS TABLE]
  1. A switch is what you use to turn lights or other machines and equipment on and off.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-noun-vr1c~GZ1
  2. A switch is a change from one thing to another.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-noun-YbuXQmEA
  3. A switch is a place on the track where trains can chose between two tracks.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-noun-J2YwwGuW
  4. A switch is a networking device that connects networks together by sending data (packets) only to the devices that need them.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-noun-yJVid6bi Categories (other): Technology
  5. A switch is a thin stick.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-noun-Z0itvjeB

Verb

IPA: /swɪtʃ/ Audio: en-us-switch.ogg [US] Forms: switch [canonical], switches [third-person, singular], switched [past], switched [past, participle], switching [present, participle]
enPR: swĭch Head templates: {{verb|switch|es}} [POS TABLE]
  1. If you switch something, you change it to something else.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-Fmfj4f4y
  2. If you switch a light or machine on, you change something so that it has power and can work.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-LFUm9zBT
  3. If you switch a light or machine off, you change something so that it doesn't have power and can't work.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-snRrzWMm
  4. If you switch over to something, you change to it, often with no plan to change back to the first thing.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-oOQNdUMI Categories (other): Verbs
  5. If you switch gears, you change the way you think or act to match a particular situation.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-W0CGfk~L
  6. If you switch with somebody, you do something that they usually do and they do the thing that you usually do.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-AbnXu-Cy Categories (other): Verbs
  7. If you switch a machine to a particular setting or function, you set it to work that way.
    Sense id: simple-switch-en-verb-NorsT8e4
{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "switch",
      "tags": [
        "canonical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switches",
      "tags": [
        "third-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switched",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switched",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "participle"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switching",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "participle"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "switch",
        "2": "es"
      },
      "expansion": "[POS TABLE]",
      "name": "verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "He switched his book with mine."
        },
        {
          "text": "We switched to a cheaper brand of coffee."
        },
        {
          "text": "When they didn't seem to understand, he switched to French."
        },
        {
          "text": "Jump ten times, switch legs and repeat."
        },
        {
          "text": "I just switched jobs, and at my new job I don't have insurance."
        },
        {
          "text": "When his team was losing, he switched sides."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch something, you change it to something else."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-Fmfj4f4y",
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "She sat up in bed and switched on the light."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch a light or machine on, you change something so that it has power and can work."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-LFUm9zBT",
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I switched off the computer and went to bed."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch a light or machine off, you change something so that it doesn't have power and can't work."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-snRrzWMm",
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Verbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "We used to watch CNN, but we've switched over to BBC World News."
        },
        {
          "text": "It was difficult when I switched over from writing to acting."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch over to something, you change to it, often with no plan to change back to the first thing."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-oOQNdUMI",
      "raw_tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "When I come home from work, it takes me a while to switch gears."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch gears, you change the way you think or act to match a particular situation."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-W0CGfk~L",
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Verbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Sibyl couldn't work on Tuesday, so I switched with her."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch with somebody, you do something that they usually do and they do the thing that you usually do."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-AbnXu-Cy",
      "raw_tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "She switched the TV to another channel."
        },
        {
          "text": "She switched the plane to automatic pilot."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch a machine to a particular setting or function, you set it to work that way."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-verb-NorsT8e4",
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "swĭch"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/swɪtʃ/"
    },
    {
      "sampa": "/swItS/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-switch.ogg",
      "raw_tags": [
        "Audio"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "switch"
}

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "switch",
      "tags": [
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switches",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "2": "switches"
      },
      "expansion": "[POS TABLE]",
      "name": "noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The light switch is on the wall behind the door."
        },
        {
          "text": "Where's the on/off switch on this printer?"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is what you use to turn lights or other machines and equipment on and off."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-noun-vr1c~GZ1",
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It's often difficult for older people to make the switch to living alone."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a change from one thing to another."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-noun-YbuXQmEA",
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a place on the track where trains can chose between two tracks."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-noun-J2YwwGuW",
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Technology",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Switches are more efficient than hubs because they understand which device needs the data that other devices send them."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a networking device that connects networks together by sending data (packets) only to the devices that need them."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-noun-yJVid6bi",
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable",
        "technology"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a thin stick."
      ],
      "id": "simple-switch-en-noun-Z0itvjeB"
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "swĭch"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/swɪtʃ/"
    },
    {
      "sampa": "/swItS/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-switch.ogg",
      "raw_tags": [
        "Audio"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "switch"
}
{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "switch",
      "tags": [
        "canonical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switches",
      "tags": [
        "third-person",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switched",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switched",
      "tags": [
        "past",
        "participle"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switching",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "participle"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "switch",
        "2": "es"
      },
      "expansion": "[POS TABLE]",
      "name": "verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Intransitive verbs",
        "Transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "He switched his book with mine."
        },
        {
          "text": "We switched to a cheaper brand of coffee."
        },
        {
          "text": "When they didn't seem to understand, he switched to French."
        },
        {
          "text": "Jump ten times, switch legs and repeat."
        },
        {
          "text": "I just switched jobs, and at my new job I don't have insurance."
        },
        {
          "text": "When his team was losing, he switched sides."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch something, you change it to something else."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Intransitive verbs",
        "Transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "She sat up in bed and switched on the light."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch a light or machine on, you change something so that it has power and can work."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Intransitive verbs",
        "Transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I switched off the computer and went to bed."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch a light or machine off, you change something so that it doesn't have power and can't work."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Intransitive verbs",
        "Verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "We used to watch CNN, but we've switched over to BBC World News."
        },
        {
          "text": "It was difficult when I switched over from writing to acting."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch over to something, you change to it, often with no plan to change back to the first thing."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "When I come home from work, it takes me a while to switch gears."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch gears, you change the way you think or act to match a particular situation."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Intransitive verbs",
        "Verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Sibyl couldn't work on Tuesday, so I switched with her."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch with somebody, you do something that they usually do and they do the thing that you usually do."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Intransitive verbs",
        "Transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "She switched the TV to another channel."
        },
        {
          "text": "She switched the plane to automatic pilot."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If you switch a machine to a particular setting or function, you set it to work that way."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "transitive & intransitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "swĭch"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/swɪtʃ/"
    },
    {
      "sampa": "/swItS/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-switch.ogg",
      "raw_tags": [
        "Audio"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "switch"
}

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "switch",
      "tags": [
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "switches",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "2": "switches"
      },
      "expansion": "[POS TABLE]",
      "name": "noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Countable nouns"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The light switch is on the wall behind the door."
        },
        {
          "text": "Where's the on/off switch on this printer?"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is what you use to turn lights or other machines and equipment on and off."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Countable nouns"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It's often difficult for older people to make the switch to living alone."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a change from one thing to another."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Countable nouns"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a place on the track where trains can chose between two tracks."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Countable nouns",
        "Technology"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Switches are more efficient than hubs because they understand which device needs the data that other devices send them."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a networking device that connects networks together by sending data (packets) only to the devices that need them."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "countable",
        "technology"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A switch is a thin stick."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "enpr": "swĭch"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/swɪtʃ/"
    },
    {
      "sampa": "/swItS/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-switch.ogg",
      "raw_tags": [
        "Audio"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "switch"
}

Download raw JSONL data for switch meaning in English (4.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-18 from the simplewiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (681a778 and 4401a4c). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.