Exchange — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /iks-ˈchānj/ ex·change

Meaning & Definition of Exchange

Exchange (noun)

  1. the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another, trade
  2. the act or process of substituting one thing for another
  3. reciprocal giving and receiving

Exchange (verb)

  1. to part with, give, or transfer in consideration of something received as an equivalent
  2. to have replaced by other merchandise
  3. to part with for a substitute

Exchange (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another

    "exchanges of commemorative pins are common among Olympic athletes"

    similar: back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, trade, trade-off, truck
    related: replacement, substitution, reciprocation, recompense, requital, bargain, deal, horse trade, negotiation, transaction, bargaining, dealing, dickering, haggling, horse trading, logrolling

  2. talking or a talk between two or more people

    "we had a brief exchange with the pastor as we passed him on the way out of church"

    similar: chat, colloquy, conversation, converse, dialogue, discourse, discussion
    related: banter, chaff, cross fire, give-and-take, persiflage, raillery, repartee, conference, parley, babble, chatter, chin-wag (slang), chitchat, confabulation, gabfest, gossip, natter (chiefly British), palaver, prate, prattle, rap, small talk, table talk, round-robin, roundtable, symposium, debate, deliberation

Exchange (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give up (something) and take something else in return

    "I'd like to exchange this sweater for one in a larger size"

    similar: change, commute, shift, substitute, swap, switch, trade
    related: interchange, displace, replace, supersede, cede, hand over, surrender, yield, reciprocate

Related Entry: Exchange (for) (verb)

Exchange (for) is a different word from Exchange. The synonyms below are for exchange (for), not for exchange.

  1. as in deal (for), trade (for)

    similar: barter (for), deal (for), dicker (over), haggle (for), negotiate (about), trade (for), finance, pay (for), spring (for), bargain (with), chaffer (with), horse-trade (with), palter (with), acquire, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure, win, bid, offer, buy, cop (slang), pick up, purchase, take, rebuy, repurchase
    opposite: deal (in), market, merchandise, retail, sell, vend

Related Entry: Exchange student (noun)

Exchange student is a different word from Exchange. The synonyms below are for exchange student, not for exchange.

  1. as in student, day student

    similar: day student, preppy, schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, freshman, junior, senior, sophomore, high schooler, kindergartner, middler, middle schooler, pupil, scholar, student, coed, collegian, postgraduate, undergraduate, underclassman, undergrad, upperclassman, schoolfellow, schoolmate, reader, studier

Related Entry: Exchange students (noun)

Exchange students is a different word from Exchange. The synonyms below are for exchange students, not for exchange.

  1. as in students, day students

    similar: day students, preppies, schoolboys, schoolchildren, schoolgirls, freshmen, juniors, seniors, sophomores, high schoolers, kindergartners, middlers, middle schoolers, pupils, scholars, students, coeds, collegians, postgraduates, undergraduates, underclassmen, undergrads, upperclassmen, schoolfellows, schoolmates, readers, studiers
    opposite: nonstudents

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Exchange

The most common words with a similar meaning to Exchange:

back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, trade, trade-off, truck, chat, colloquy, conversation, converse, dialogue, discourse, discussion, change, commute, shift, substitute, switch

Related Words for Exchange

replacement, substitution, reciprocation, recompense, requital, bargain, deal, horse trade, negotiation, transaction, bargaining, dealing, dickering, haggling, horse trading, logrolling, banter, chaff, cross fire, give-and-take, persiflage, raillery, repartee, conference, parley, babble, chatter, chin-wag, chitchat, confabulation

Word Forms of Exchange

Inflections: exchanged, exchanging

Derived words: exchangeability (noun), exchangeable (adjective), exchanger (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Exchange

Middle English exchaunge, from Anglo-French eschange, from eschanger to exchange, from Vulgar Latin *excambiare, from Latin ex- + cambiare to exchange change

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Exchange

Words & Phrases Containing Exchange

exchange rate, exchange student, exchange fire, base exchange, bill of exchange, foreign exchange, in exchange, ion exchange

Frequently Asked Questions about Exchange

What does "Exchange" mean?

"Exchange" means the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another, trade. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the act of giving or taking one thing in return for another, trade. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Exchange"?

Other words for "Exchange" include back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, trade and trade-off. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Exchange" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Exchange"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Exchange". Common alternatives include back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, trade, trade-off, truck and chat.

How do you use "Exchange" in a sentence?

Examples of "Exchange" in a sentence: "exchanges of commemorative pins are common among Olympic athletes"; "we had a brief exchange with the pastor as we passed him on the way out of church"; "I'd like to exchange this sweater for one in a larger size".

Is "Exchange" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Exchange" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Exchange" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Exchange" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Exchange"?

"Exchange" is pronounced /iks-ˈchānj/ and divided into syllables as ex·change.

What is the origin of the word "Exchange"?

"Exchange" comes from Middle English exchaunge, from Anglo-French eschange, from eschanger to exchange, from Vulgar Latin *excambiare, from Latin ex- + cambiare to exchange change. First known use: 14th century.