You must switch off the power before checking the circuit.
Source: tatoeba (22310)
Switch
/swɪt͡ʃ/
Synonyms for "switch" (567 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (114)
Noun(16 words)
shiftactivateadjustalteralternatesalternatingbuttonbuttonscentralschangechange opennesschangeoverchangeoverscircuit isolatorcontrolcontrol device
about faceabout-faceaccommodationactionadaptationadjustmentagencyalchemyalterationalternateameliorationanagnorisisangleapostacizeapostasyapostatizeappendagearchitectonicsarchitectureargument
Show 68 more words
armassignassimilateassimilate toassimilationassumptionastonishmentatmosphereavertback scratchingbackgroundbackscratchingbandybarterbastebastinadobe quits withbear offbeatbecomebecomingbelaborbeltbettermentbinebirchblockbusterblowboltbombbombshellboughbranchbranchednessbranchinessbreakbreak awaybring tobuffetburgeonbuy and sellcanecarry overcatastrophecatchchangechange forchange intochange of heartchange overchange sideschange-overchangeablenesscharacterizationchignonclubcolorcommunicatecommutationcommutecompensatecomplicationcompound forconsignconstructive changecontinuitycontrivancecontrol
Adjective(1 words)
alternate number
Strong matches (170)
Noun(22 words)
control overall forcedeactivatedisconnectelectric switchelectrical switchexchangesflagflipflitsgategerman weichhandoffhophoppinghopshopscotchhopscotchinginterchangesisolatoritalian cambiare
conversionconvertcooperatecounterchangecowhidecudgelcutdeadwooddealdefectdefectiondeflectdeflectiondegenerationdegenerative changedelegationdeliverdenouementdeportdeputation
Show 116 more words
deputyshipdesertdesigndeteriorationdevelopmentdeviatedeviationdevicedifferencediffusedirectdiscontinuitydisplacementdisseminatedivergencediversificationdiversiondiversitydivertdo businessdo overdraw asidedrubdub inearthshakerease offedge offelectrical parts and devicesepisodeeven tradeexchangeexpelexportextraditeeye openereye-openerfablefallfall awayfall offfalling actionfalse hairferulefittingflagellateflagellumflailflip flopflip-flopflogfly offforkfrondfustigategeegeneratorget back atget even withgimmickgive a whippinggive and takegive in exchangegive place togive the stickglanceglance offgo offgo overgradual changegrowthhandhand forwardhand onhand overhawhead offhorse-tradehorsewhipimpimpartimportimprovementincidentinterchangejibjointjokerkickerknoutlacelapselashlay onleglimblinelinklobelobulelocal colorlogrolllogrollingmakemake domake do withmake overmake way formeliorationmembermetastasizemetathesizemitigationmodificationmodulationmoodmotif
Adjective(3 words)
dynamic shiftelectrical controlfastest rotating
Related words (283)
move asidemovementmythosnaturalizationnaturalizeoffer in exchangeoffshootorganoverthrowpaddlepandybatpartspasspass onpass overpass the buckpassagepay backperfuseperipeteia
Show 197 more words
permutepinionpistol whippistol-whipplanplotpommelpork barrelpower of attorneyprogresspummelput up withqualificationquid pro quoradical changeramageramificationratrattanrawhidere creationre-creationre-formationrealignmentreciprocaterecognitionreconversionreconvertredeemredesignredirectreducereduce toreductionreformreformationrelayremakingrenderrenewalreplacementrepresentationrequitereshapingresolutionresolve intorespondrestructuringretaliatereturnreturn the complimentrevelationreversalreverserevivalrevivificationrevolutionring inrising actionrodrotaterulerrunnersarmentschemescionscourgesecedesecondary plotsheer offshiftshockershootshove asideshuntshyshy offsidesidestepsidetracksidleslantslipsmitespankspearsprayspreadsprigspritsproutspurstaggererstartlersteer clear ofstep asidestickstolonstorystrapstrikestripestructuresubjectsubplotsubrogationsubstitutesubstitutionsuckersudden changesupersedencesupersedingsuperseduresupersessionsupplantationsupplantingsupplantmentsurprisalsurprisesurprise endingsurprise packagesurprise partyswapswap horsesswappingswingswingeswitch overswitch-overtailtake in exchangetendrilthallusthematic developmentthemethrashthumpthunderboltthunderclaptit for tattonetopictotal changetradetrade intrade offtrade sight unseentradingtraffictransfertransfer propertytransformtransformationtransfusetransittransitiontranslatetranslocatetransmittransplacetransplanttransposetrouncetrucktruncheonturnturn asideturn awayturn backturn cloakturn intoturn overturnaboutturning intotwigtwisttwitchupheavalvariationvarietyvaryveerveer offvicariousnessviolent changevolte facevolte-facewagwagglewallopwanewavewhalewhipwhopwingworsening
Noun(46 words)
multiway switchnarrative pivoton off switchpermutationpolitical transition processpower switchpushbuttonreading station rotationredirectrelaysreplacementrerouterotary switchrotaterotating mechanismsafety switchscissorsselectorselectorsset
Adjective(3 words)
new convertrotating machinerytransformed state
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: exchange, shift, shift, swap, about face.
- Sentence evidence is available for switch, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "switch".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "switch"
Keep "switch" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "switch" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "switch", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "switch" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
48 entriesabandonadjustmentalterbasketball playchangechange by reversalcircuit controlconnection controlcontrolcontrol devicecontrollerdeviceelectrical componentelectrical controlelectrical device
Showing 16 of 48 words.
More specific
22 entriesadjust voltagebutton presschange settingchangeover switchcircuit closuredisconnect switchfused switchknife switchlever throwlockable switchpath selectionpush button switchrelay activationrotary switchselector switchset position
Showing 16 of 22 words.
Collocations
10 entriescircuit switchclose circuitflip switchknife switchlight switchopen circuitpower switchselector switchswitch contacttoggle switch
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
4 entriesTranslations
24 translations across 17 languages.
Belarusian
1 entries- камута́тар noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Bulgarian
1 entries- комута́тор noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Finnish
4 entries- keskus noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- puhelinkeskus noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- puhelinvaihde noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- vaihde noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
French
1 entries- commutateur noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Italian
1 entries- centralino noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Macedonian
1 entries- развод noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- sentral noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Polish
1 entries- switch noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Portuguese
2 entries- central telefónica noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- central telefônica noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Romanian
3 entries- centrală noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- comutator noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- selector noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Russian
1 entries- коммута́тор noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Serbo-Croatian
2 entries- sklȍpka noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
- скло̏пка noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Swedish
1 entries- växel noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Ukrainian
1 entries- комута́тор noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Uzbek
1 entries- xivchin noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Vietnamese
1 entries- chuyển mạch noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Welsh
1 entries- switsh noun (system allowing the interconnection of telephone lines)
Sample sentences
33 total sentences available.
Learning lessons from Europe, Japan has to switch its economic-oriented policy to a consumer-conscious one, in order to cope with the coming unprecedented aging society towards the 21st century.
Source: tatoeba (25657)
Lucy turned on the light switch.
Source: tatoeba (29565)
Can I switch over from a sightseeing visa to a business one?
Source: tatoeba (34789)
Showing 4 of 33 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "switch"?
Closest matches include exchange, shift, shift, swap, about face.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "switch"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.