INDEX:
1. to exchange one thing for another
2. when you exchange one thing for another
3. ways of saying what you give or get when you exchange things
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ GIVE
↑ GET
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1. to exchange one thing for another
▷ exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ [transitive verb]
to give something to someone and receive a similar thing from them at the same time :
exchange addresses/telephone numbers
▪ We exchanged addresses and phone numbers.
exchange something for something
▪ Foreign currency can be exchanged for sterling at any bank.
▷ swap /swɒpǁswɑːp/ [intransitive/transitive verb] informal
to exchange something with someone, especially with someone you know well, so that you each get something that you want :
▪ Jacky had the book I wanted, but wasn’t willing to swap.
swap something with somebody
▪ Taylor offered to swap jobs with me.
swap something for something
▪ I’m trying to sell my bike, or swap it for a slightly bigger one.
▷ trade /treɪd/ [intransitive/transitive verb] especially American
to exchange something that you have for something that someone else has :
▪ We liked each other’s clothes, so we traded.
trade something for something
▪ The West is accused of trading weapons for hostages.
I’ll trade you
spoken say this when you want to exchange something
▪ I’ll trade you my baseball for those two cars.
▷ do a swap /ˌduː ə ˈswɒpǁ-ˈswɑːp/ [verb phrase] British
an informal expression: if two people do a swap with each other they exchange things so that they each get what they want :
do a swap with somebody
▪ If you can’t work a particular shift, you can always do a swap with a colleague.
▷ trade in /ˌtreɪd ˈɪn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to give your old car, washing machine etc to the shop that you are buying a new one from, so that they will let you buy the new one for a slightly lower price :
trade in something
▪ You can get quite good price reductions on new cars if you trade in your old one.
trade something/it/them in
▪ My car was now six years old, so I traded it in and got a newer one.
trade in something for
▪ They traded in their Porsche for a family car.
▷ change British /exchange American /tʃeɪndʒ, ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ [transitive verb]
to exchange something you have bought or chosen because you have decided you want something different or because there is something wrong with it :
▪ If the trousers are the wrong size you can always change them.
change something for something
▪ Can I exchange this sweater for a black one?
▷ barter /ˈbɑːʳtəʳ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to exchange something that you have for something that you want or need without giving or taking money for it :
barter something for something
▪ In the local market, meat and vegetables are bartered for electrical goods.
barter with
▪ She had some success in bartering with her guards.
barter [uncountable noun]
▪ In the mountain areas, most of the trade is still done by barter people barter to get what they need .
▷ switch /swɪtʃ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to exchange something so that two or more things or people change the places that they are in :
▪ He was accused of switching the price labels on goods.
▪ Professor Rigby’s talk may be switched to the main hall.
switch seats/places
▪ We switched seats halfway through the show.
▷ change places /ˌtʃeɪndʒ ˈpleɪsə̇z/ [verb phrase]
to exchange the place you are standing or sitting on with another person :
change places with
▪ Would you mind changing places with me?
▷ change partners /ˌtʃeɪndʒ ˈpɑːʳtneʳz/ [verb phrase]
if a group of people who are dancing change partners, they stop dancing with one person and dance with another person in the group :
▪ We agreed to change partners after a couple of dances.
2. when you exchange one thing for another
▷ exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ [countable noun usually singular]
when you give something to someone and receive a similar thing from them at the same time :
▪ Sale goods can be brought back to the store for an exchange or store credit.
exchange of
▪ The exchange of prisoners took place on a bridge over the Mekong river.
▪ In any negotiations there must be an honest exchange of information.
▷ interchange /ˈɪntəʳtʃeɪndʒ/ [countable noun usually singular]
the useful exchange of ideas or information between people or organizations, especially when this happens continuously over a long period of time :
interchange of
▪ The conference provides a forum for the interchange of ideas and information.
data/document interchange
the exchange of information by computer
▪ The new program should help solve some of the problems of data interchange between companies with different computer systems.
▷ swap /swɒpǁswɑːp/ especially British /trade /treɪd/ especially American [countable noun usually singular] informal
when you give something to someone and receive a similar thing from them, usually someone you know :
▪ If you are unable to sell your house, it is sometimes possible to arrange a swap.
▪ After a brief discussion we agreed a trade.
3. ways of saying what you give or get when you exchange things
▷ in exchange/in return /ɪn ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ, ɪn rɪˈtɜːʳn/ [adverb]
if you give something or do something in exchange or in return for something else, you give it in order to get something else back :
▪ He is always willing to help people out, without expecting anything in return.
in exchange/in return for
▪ In exchange for giving evidence in court, Jacobs was granted freedom and allowed to leave the country.
▷ for /fəʳ ; strong fɔːʳ/ [preposition]
in exchange for :
give/offer somebody something for something
▪ They gave me £200 for my old car.
▪ She offered me $30 for my bike.
▪ I get £35 for each shift, plus tips.