to cause (a device) to operate by or as if by moving a switch, knob, or lever; turn on
informal (tr) to produce (charm, tears, etc) suddenly or automatically
informal (tr) (now slightly dated) to make up-to-date, esp regarding outlook, dress, etc
slang (tr) to arouse emotionally or sexually
slang (intr) to take or become intoxicated by drugs
slang (tr) to introduce (someone) to drugs
Noun use of verb phrase switch on
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The council said Christmas switch-on events would take place in Halesowen on 15 November, in Brierley Hill and Stourbridge on 22 November, in Sedgley on 23 November and in Dudley on 6 December.
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2025
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said the big switch-on was "an opportunity to show that hate will never win in our communities".
From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2024
Starting from Goodison Park, at the junction of Spellow Lane and Goodison Road, the library lit up with a beam of light shooting into the sky in a symbolic switch-on, following live music performances..
From BBC ● Dec. 11, 2024
The market's opening day coincided with the Belfast Christmas lights switch-on, with a number of roads in the city centre closed.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2024
Hundreds of people headed to a North Yorkshire town's seafront to see the light switch-on of its "fishtive" Christmas tree.
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2022
How he's still able to keep himself conditioned physically, and switch on mentally to play a five-setter like this, is astonishing - especially given how little tennis he has been playing outside of the Slams.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
As he played the instrumental at the end of a session, Madonna said, "Just switch on the microphone, I think I've got an idea," he told Norton.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
His approach to business flips the switch on the classic “Field of Dreams” mantra.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
“We’re not pulling a bait and switch on you,” Hoover told The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
He makes sure the ringer switch on the side is set to silent before hitting the power button.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
