# interchange

/ˌɪnɝˈtʃeɪndʒ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/interchange
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. exchange of ideas

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the act of sharing or swapping ideas, information, or feelings between people.

For teachers: the mutual exchange of ideas, information, or sentiments between two or more parties.

- The conference allowed for a useful interchange of ideas between the two teams.
- The symposium facilitated a vigorous interchange of perspectives, challenging established theories in the field of linguistics.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. road junction

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a complex place where several big roads meet, designed so cars can change roads without stopping.

For teachers: a grade-separated highway junction allowing traffic to move between different routes without crossing other traffic streams.

- Take the next interchange to get onto the main motorway heading north.
- The new multi-level interchange has significantly reduced the congestion previously caused by the old roundabout system.

### 3. transport hub

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a station where different bus or train lines meet so you can switch between them.

For teachers: a facility or station designed to facilitate the transfer of passengers between different transport modes or lines.

- The city built a new transport interchange where the trains and buses meet.
- The redevelopment project aims to transform the central station into a seamless transport interchange for commuters and tourists alike.

### 4. to swap

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to put each of two things in the place of the other.

For teachers: to put each of two things in the place of the other; to switch or alternate.

- You can interchange these two parts because they are exactly the same size.
- The terms are often interchanged in casual conversation, though they have distinct meanings in a legal context.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a plural object or two objects linked by 'and'.

## Examples

- The conference allowed for a productive interchange of ideas.
- The project failed because there was no clear interchange of data between the two research teams.
- A healthy democracy relies on the constant interchange of diverse perspectives, ensuring that policy decisions reflect a broad consensus rather than a narrow interest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.