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exchange

noun · verb

Simple meaning

To give something and get something else back.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

ihkschaynj

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US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. An act of exchanging or trading.

  2. usually with "the"

    The loss of a minor piece (typically a bishop or knight) and associated capture of the more advantageous rook.

  3. A place for conducting trading.

  4. A conversation.

verb

  1. Exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category

  2. transitive

    To replace with, as a substitute.

  3. transitivefigurative

    To mutually direct at each other.

  4. transitive

    To trade or barter.

  5. transitive

    To recommend and get recommendations.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Very Common
Typical Use
Everyday English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: The loss of a minor piece (typically a bishop or knight) and associated capture of the more advantageous rook.

Used this way, exchange is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Slightly negative
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Mild
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Critical or judgemental
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use exchange

  • “Adam was promised immortality in exchange for his disobedience.”noun

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

exchange rateion exchangeexchange valueexchange commissionexchange actreal exchangeinformation exchangefixed exchange

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • exchangernounInflected form

    One whose business is to exchange the money of one country for that of another country.

Word family

Words built from the same root.

  • exchangeableadjectiveDerived adjective

    Suitable to be exchanged.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • exchange ratenounCompound term

    The charge for exchanging currency of one country for currency of another.

  • exchange traded fundnounCompound term

    A mutual fund that is traded on a stock exchange.

  • exchange transfusionnounCompound term

    Slow removal of a person's blood and its replacement with equal amounts of a donor's blood.

  • exchange premiumnounCompound term

    A fee charged for exchanging currencies.

  • commodity exchangenounCompound term

    An exchange for buying and selling commodities for future delivery.

  • corn exchangenounCompound term

    An exchange where grains are bought and sold.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: exchange or replace with another

changeArchaicswitchconvertinterchangecommute

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.