conversion

The word “conversion” means the act of changing something from one form, use, or state into another. In plain terms, the process of turning something into something else, whether that's a building, a belief, a customer, or a rugby score.

“Conversion” is pronounced kuhn-VURSHN (/kənˈvɝʒən/ in IPA).

Here is “conversion” used in a sentence: “The conversion of the old warehouse into flats took over a year.”

Words with a similar meaning to “conversion” include development, metamorphosis, transfiguration, transfigurement, transformation and transmogrification.

The opposite of “conversion” — its antonyms — are deconversion, restoration and reversion.

“Conversion” is a noun.

The word “conversion” comes from Latin. From Latin conversio, "a turning around, a change," from convertere.

“Conversion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Both describe change, but "conversion" stresses changing something from one form, use, or state into another for a specific purpose, such as a currency conversion or a loft conversion. "Transformation" suggests a more complete or dramatic change in nature or appearance, without the sense of adapting for a particular use.

"Conversion" is usually followed by "to" for the resulting state or belief, as in "conversion to Christianity" or "conversion to metric." You use "from" for the starting point and "into" for the new form, as in "the conversion from oil into gas."

"Conversion" refers to religion when it describes a change of faith, belief, or opinion, such as a person's conversion to a new religion. In other contexts it means physically or functionally changing something, like the conversion of a building or the conversion of data.

Frequent pairings include "currency conversion," "loft conversion," "data conversion," and "religious conversion." These show its two main uses: changing one thing into another, and changing a belief.