1
: a piece or device for holding or securing: such as
a
: a pin inserted in a nautical knot to make it more secure or easier to slip
b
: a crosspiece attached to the end of or to a loop in something (such as a chain, rope, line, strap, or belt) usually to prevent slipping, to serve in twisting or tightening, or to hold something attached
2
: a device consisting of two bars jointed together end to end but not in line so that when a force is applied to the joint tending to straighten it pressure will be exerted on the parts adjacent or fixed to the outer ends of the bars
also
: a device with a joint using a toggle
3
computers
: a setting that can be switched between two different options by performing a single action (such as selecting a menu option or pressing a key)
toggled; toggling
ˈtä-g(ə-)liŋ 
; toggles
; toggles
1
: to fasten with or as if with a toggle
2
: to furnish with a toggle
3
: to switch between two different options for (something, such as a computer setting) usually by pressing a single button or a simple key combination
toggle the sound on a computer off and on
: to switch between usually two different options, states, or activities : alternate, cycle
Prevent bad habits by intervening when kids toggle between texting and studying …—
Phyllis Fagell
Phyllis FagellThe brain continues to toggle back and forth between non-REM and REM sleep throughout the night, once every hour and a half.—Alice Park et al.
Alice Park et al.
specifically
: to change between usually two options of an electronic device by means of a simple hardware or software control (such as a button, a switch, or a combination of keys)
You also get … an icon that lets you toggle between keyboard and gamepad controls. —Ian Paul
Ian Paul Users can toggle between these three views at any time, offering a more customizable way to consume the content on the site. —Arielle Pardes
Arielle Pardes … a prompt asks for permission to access the front-facing camera. As with any app, this permission can be toggled on or off … —Joe Rossignol
Joe Rossignol Using the steering wheel, you can toggle through various layouts including navigation, trip computer, audio, driver's assistance features, and a tachometer. —Benjamin Zhang
Benjamin Zhang 
Examples of toggle in a Sentence
Noun
Instead of buttons, the jacket has toggles.
Recent Examples on the WebPCMAG, 28 Mar. 2024
The catch is that this toggle impacts the use of your personal data only in Comcast’s advertising, marketing, and recommendations systems.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2024
A little effort and a couple of toggles can save you time and peace of mind.
—Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
There’s a toggle in the network settings to set your default connection and switch between the two.
—Simon Hill Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 27 Feb. 2024
With this toggle turned on, your desktop wallpaper looks like a still image.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2023
These Sorel snow boots come in toddler, little kid, and big kid sizes, and an adjustable ankle strap and toggle cinch keep snow and wetness out.
—Karthika Gupta, Parents, 11 Jan. 2024
Engaging this mode requires a simple long press of the second button, activating a sequence that intelligently toggles temperatures between warm and cool settings.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024
Chinn’s film toggles between the anguish that envelopes mother and daughter and the developments of a routine coming-of-age story.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Memristors and similar devices are essentially switches that can remember which electric state they were toggled to after their power is turned off.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2024
Here, an upcoming 2024 release, in which the narration toggles wildly between the past and the future.
—Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Users will also now have the ability to toggle read receipts on or off, pin individual or group chats to the top of their inboxes, and respond with their choice of stickers, GIFs, videos, photos, and voice messages.
—Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024
This was true of her performance as well, which brought the perfection and order of musical theater to the pop-punk and piano balladry that her songs toggle between.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
In some cases, the customer may be able to toggle off tracking options.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024
Next to the dot-matrix screen is a button that controls the display, toggling different functions at a press.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Mainstream adventure films often toggle between expository and action sequences with wearyingly predictability; here, everything flows.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
Missing here are an on-lens focus toggle and a dedicated function button.
—PCMAG, 28 Mar. 2024
The catch is that this toggle impacts the use of your personal data only in Comcast’s advertising, marketing, and recommendations systems.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2024
A little effort and a couple of toggles can save you time and peace of mind.
—Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
There’s a toggle in the network settings to set your default connection and switch between the two.
—Simon Hill Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 27 Feb. 2024
With this toggle turned on, your desktop wallpaper looks like a still image.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 26 Sep. 2023
These Sorel snow boots come in toddler, little kid, and big kid sizes, and an adjustable ankle strap and toggle cinch keep snow and wetness out.
—Karthika Gupta, Parents, 11 Jan. 2024
Engaging this mode requires a simple long press of the second button, activating a sequence that intelligently toggles temperatures between warm and cool settings.
—Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024
Chinn’s film toggles between the anguish that envelopes mother and daughter and the developments of a routine coming-of-age story.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
Verb
Callahan toggles back and forth between the language of hearing and the language of vision, using them seemingly interchangeably.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Memristors and similar devices are essentially switches that can remember which electric state they were toggled to after their power is turned off.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2024
Here, an upcoming 2024 release, in which the narration toggles wildly between the past and the future.
—Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Users will also now have the ability to toggle read receipts on or off, pin individual or group chats to the top of their inboxes, and respond with their choice of stickers, GIFs, videos, photos, and voice messages.
—Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024
This was true of her performance as well, which brought the perfection and order of musical theater to the pop-punk and piano balladry that her songs toggle between.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
In some cases, the customer may be able to toggle off tracking options.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024
Next to the dot-matrix screen is a button that controls the display, toggling different functions at a press.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Mainstream adventure films often toggle between expository and action sequences with wearyingly predictability; here, everything flows.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toggle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1836, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing toggle
Dictionary Entries Near toggle
Cite this Entry
“Toggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toggle. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
toggle
1 of 2 noun
tog·gle
ˈtäg-əl
: a crosspiece attached to the end of or to a loop in a rope, chain, or belt to prevent slipping or to serve as a fastening or as a grip for tightening
used a stick as a toggle in tightening a rope
toggle
2 of 2 verb1
: to fasten with or as if with a toggle
2
: to furnish with a toggle
3
: to switch between two options especially of an electronic device usually by pressing a single button or a simple key combination
More from Merriam-Webster on toggle
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for toggle
Nglish: Translation of toggle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of toggle for Arabic Speakers
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