# switching

/ˈswɪtʃɪŋ/ (US) · /swˈɪtʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/switching
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. changing between things

noun · CEFR B1

the act of changing from one thing, person, or method to another.

For teachers: the act of substituting one thing for another or changing a course of action.

- The switching of players during the second half helped the team win the game.
- Frequent switching between different software tools can lead to a loss of focus and reduced productivity for office workers.

### 2. routing data

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the way a computer network moves information from one place to another.

For teachers: the process of connecting different nodes in a network to allow data to reach its destination.

- The office internet is slow because there is a problem with the network switching.
- Modern packet switching allows multiple users to share the same data path efficiently by breaking information into smaller chunks.

## Examples

- Switching between different apps can drain your phone battery.
- The network administrator improved performance by upgrading the hardware responsible for packet switching.
- Frequent task switching in the workplace often leads to a decrease in overall productivity as the brain requires time to recalibrate to each new set of demands.

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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.