switch on
phrasal verb
switched on; switching on; switches on
: to turn on (something) by turning or pushing a button or moving a switch, lever, etc.
I switched on the TV.
She switched the light on.
Examples of switch on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In recall documents, Kia said that the adjustment switch on the power seat can dislodge if hit too forcefully, locking in the position of the seat while the seat motor is still running.
—
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 7 June 2024
The role of humans would be reduced to switching on the machines and sitting on the sidelines, with little ability to control or even end wars.
—Paul Scharre, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2024
In-flight meal service will be halted when the seatbelt sign is switched on, in addition to the suspension of hot drinks, the airline said in a statement.
—Angus Whitley / Bloomberg, TIME, 24 May 2024
Then Hansen switched on an oven-size box known as a mass spectrometer, which weighs molecules so that scientists can identify them.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 20 May 2024
When electric bulbs were introduced, the lamplighters kept their jobs because each streetlight had to be switched on individually.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 May 2024
Current flowed from a power supply truck through the cable to the panel, which was ready to switch on the pumps for a backup cooling system inside the reactor 1 building.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Oct. 2011
Image: Chris Covell Those design touches went out the window for the SNES released in the US, which ended up with a chunky, boxy design that had purple, sliding switches on top instead of the round, sloping, compact design.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 6 May 2024
Especially when a company has the power to flip the switch on any smart features.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 2 May 2024
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 7 June 2024
The role of humans would be reduced to switching on the machines and sitting on the sidelines, with little ability to control or even end wars.
—Paul Scharre, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2024
In-flight meal service will be halted when the seatbelt sign is switched on, in addition to the suspension of hot drinks, the airline said in a statement.
—Angus Whitley / Bloomberg, TIME, 24 May 2024
Then Hansen switched on an oven-size box known as a mass spectrometer, which weighs molecules so that scientists can identify them.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 20 May 2024
When electric bulbs were introduced, the lamplighters kept their jobs because each streetlight had to be switched on individually.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 May 2024
Current flowed from a power supply truck through the cable to the panel, which was ready to switch on the pumps for a backup cooling system inside the reactor 1 building.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Oct. 2011
Image: Chris Covell Those design touches went out the window for the SNES released in the US, which ended up with a chunky, boxy design that had purple, sliding switches on top instead of the round, sloping, compact design.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 6 May 2024
Especially when a company has the power to flip the switch on any smart features.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'switch on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near switch on
Cite this Entry
“Switch on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switch%20on. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
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