switch
/swɪtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /swɪtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈswich/ (ame, mw)
switch — noun
- switchsingular
- switchesplural
1. A small piece of hardware, typically fixed to a wall or built into a device, tha
A small piece of hardware, typically fixed to a wall or built into a device, that you push or slide to make an electrical appliance start or stop working.
Liang walked into the dark room and felt for the switch on the wall.
collocation: switch on the wall
Noa pressed the light switch as she left the kitchen.
This old desk lamp has a small switch built into its base.
Ravindra asked the children not to play with the bathroom light switch.
A dimmer switch lets you adjust how bright the room feels.
文法句型
adjective + switch (light switch, dimmer switch, wall switch)
switch + verb (the switch controls...)
用法筆記
In British English, a wall-mounted electrical switch is usually called just a switch; in American English, light switch or wall switch is more common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. A set of movable rails at a track junction that directs a moving train onto a di
A set of movable rails at a track junction that directs a moving train onto a different parallel route.
The driver pulled the lever to operate the switch, sending the train onto a side track.
Kian noticed the railway switch move just before the express train changed tracks.
verb: railway switch move
Workers inspect each railroad switch every morning to prevent accidents.
A frozen switch caused the freight train to stop on the wrong line.
文法句型
railway switch / railroad switch
switch + verb (the switch directs...)
用法筆記
This sense is also called a set of points in British English. The term switch by itself is more common in American English for railway contexts.
3. A moment when one thing stops and a different thing starts in its place, often h
A moment when one thing stops and a different thing starts in its place, often happening quickly or completely.
His switch from city life to farming surprised all his friends.
pattern: switch from A to B
The company announced a switch in its marketing strategy after the bad quarter.
Mayumi made a switch to a plant-based diet and felt healthier within weeks.
A sudden switch in the wind direction forced the sailors to change course.
Élise noticed a switch in her colleague's attitude after the team meeting.
文法句型
a switch + in + noun (a switch in policy)
a switch + from + noun + to + noun (a switch from A to B)
make a switch
用法筆記
Unlike change, a switch often emphasizes that the two options are clearly separate and the move from one to the other is deliberate or abrupt.
常見錯誤
switch — verb
- switchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- switcheshe / she / it
- switchedpast simple
- switching-ing form
1. To press or move a switch so that a piece of equipment starts working or stops w
To press or move a switch so that a piece of equipment starts working or stops working.
Christopher switched on the reading lamp and opened his textbook.
phrasal verb: switch on + direct object
The lights switch off automatically when nobody is in the room.
intransitive use: lights switch off automatically
Chiara switched the fan off before leaving the house for work.
Nellie asked her brother to switch the television on for the evening news.
- turn on/off
interchangeable with 'switch on/off'; 'turn' is slightly more generic and not limited to physical switches
- flip
flip is more informal and suggests a quick, light movement with a finger
文法句型
switch + device (switch the light)
switch + device + on/off (switch the TV on)
switch on/off + device (switch off the fan)
用法筆記
With on and off as separable phrasal verbs: the object can go between switch and the particle (switch the light on) or after the particle (switch on the light). When the object is a pronoun, it must go between (switch it on, NOT switch on it).
常見錯誤
2. To stop using one thing and start using a different one, or to give something to
To stop using one thing and start using a different one, or to give something to someone else and receive their thing in return.
Amani switched from coffee to green tea for health reasons.
pattern: switch from A to B
João switched his major from engineering to graphic design last year.
switch + direct object + from A + to B
Rachel and Tara switched seats so Rachel could sit by the window.
The two nurses agreed to switch shifts for the weekend schedule.
Mira switched her phone provider after the contract ended last month.
Remember to switch your phone to silent mode before the movie starts.
- keep
to keep something means not to replace or exchange it
文法句型
switch + to + new thing
switch + from + old thing + to + new thing
switch + something + with + someone
switch roles/places/seats
用法筆記
When followed by with (switch with someone), the meaning is always a mutual exchange. When followed by to, the change is one-directional: you stop one thing and start another.