Switch — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈswich/

Meaning & Definition of Switch

Switch (noun)

  1. a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig
  2. an act of switching
  3. a blow with a switch

Switch (verb)

  1. to strike or beat with or as if with a switch
  2. whisk, lash
  3. to turn from one railroad track to another, shunt

Switch (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

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

  2. to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions

    "cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud"

    similar: swish, wag, waggle
    related: oscillate, rock, sway, swing, waver, beat, flail, flap, flop, lash, whip, flick, flicker, flutter, wave, jerk, jolt, jig, jiggle, joggle, shake, twitch, wiggle, bob, jog, nod

  3. to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

    "switched the stagecoach horses to control the direction they took"

    similar: birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, tan, thrash, whale, whip
    related: knout, quirt, strap, cut, flick, touch up, blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate, pistol-whip, bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib (British), hammer, lace, lambaste, lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop, whup, work over

  4. to change (as an opinion) to the contrary

    "a politician who has switched his position on a number of issues"

    similar: reverse
    related: abrogate, annul, overturn, repeal, rescind, revoke, strike down, about-face, backtrack, countermand, revert
    near: maintain, support, uphold

  5. to strike repeatedly

    "the loose rigging switched the mast during the storm"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

Switch (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a long thin or flexible tool for striking

    "struck the horse's hide with a leather switch, and it took off at a gallop"

    similar: flogger, lash, scourge, whip
    related: birch, blacksnake, bullwhip, cat-o'-nine-tails, cowhide, crop, hickory, knout, quirt, rattan, rawhide, strap, bastinado, bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, flail, nightstick, staff

  2. 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"

    similar: swish, wag, waggle, whisk
    related: oscillation, rock, sway, swing, waver, flap, flutter, wave, whip, flick, jerk, jolt, snap, twitch, jiggle, shake, wiggle, bob, nod

  3. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "in frustration, he gave the mule a sharp switch on the rump, but it still wouldn't budge"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

Related Entry: Switch knife (noun)

Switch knife is a different word from Switch. The synonyms below are for switch knife, not for switch.

  1. as in dagger, bowie knife

    similar: bayonet, bodkin, bolo, bowie knife, cutlass, dagger, dirk, jackknife, machete, pocketknife, poniard, sheath knife, stiletto, stylet, switchblade, yataghan, cutter, knife, shank (slang), shiv (slang), cleaver, hack, rapier, saber, steel, sword, scalpel

Related Entry: Switch knives (noun)

Switch knives is a different word from Switch. The synonyms below are for switch knives, not for switch.

  1. as in daggers, bowie knifes

    similar: bayonets, bodkins, bolos, bowie knifes, cutlasses, daggers, dirks, jackknives, machetes, pocketknives, poniards, sheath knives, stilettos, stylets, switchblades, yataghans, cutters, knives, shanks (slang), shivs (slang), cleavers, hacks, rapiers, sabers, steels, swords, scalpels

Related Entry: Bait and switch (noun)

Bait and switch is a different word from Switch. The synonyms below are for bait and switch, not for switch.

  1. a selling method in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced product but then is encouraged to buy a more expensive one

    similar: switcheroo, about-face, about-turn (British), flip-flop, reversal, turnabout, turnaround, U-turn, volte-face, denial, disaffirmance, disavowal, disownment, recantation, renunciation, repudiation, retraction, reconsideration, retreat, second thought, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Switch

The most common words with a similar meaning to Switch:

British: fib, douse
Dialect: larrup
change, commute, exchange, shift, substitute, swap, trade, swish, wag, waggle, birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, tan, thrash, whale, whip, reverse, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do

Related Words for Switch

interchange, displace, replace, supersede, cede, hand over, surrender, yield, reciprocate, oscillate, rock, sway, swing, waver, flap, flop, flick, flicker, flutter, wave, jerk, jolt, jig, jiggle, joggle, shake, twitch, wiggle, bob, jog

Near Antonyms of Switch

maintain, support, uphold

Word Forms of Switch

Inflections: switches, switched, switching

Derived words: switchable (adjective), switcher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Switch

perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch twig

First known use: 1597

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Switch

Words & Phrases Containing Switch

switch engine, switch-hit, switch-hitter, switch knife, switch off, switch on, switch (shifts) with (someone), bait and switch

Frequently Asked Questions about Switch

What does "Switch" mean?

"Switch" means a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a slender flexible whip, rod, or twig. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Switch"?

Other words for "Switch" include change, commute, exchange, shift, substitute, swap, trade and swish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Switch" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Switch"?

There are 240 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Switch". Common alternatives include change, commute, exchange, shift, substitute, swap, trade, swish, wag and waggle.

How do you use "Switch" in a sentence?

Examples of "Switch" in a sentence: "switched the real grapes for fake ones"; "switched the day of his flight from Thursday to Friday"; "cows lazily switching their tails and chewing their cud".

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

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

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

As a B1-level word, "Switch" 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 "Switch"?

"Switch" is pronounced /ˈswich/.

What is the origin of the word "Switch"?

"Switch" comes from perhaps from Middle Dutch swijch twig. First known use: 1597.