conversion
conversion — noun
1. the action of taking something that works one way and making it work in a differ
the action of taking something that works one way and making it work in a different way — for instance, turning a Word document into a PDF, or changing a temperature reading from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
The conversion from analogue to digital television took several years in most countries.
conversion + from + noun + to + noun (system change)
Reema used her phone to check the currency conversion before buying lunch in Seoul.
currency conversion
The government announced a full conversion to electric vehicles by the year 2035.
Ada opened a bank account that offered free conversion between dollars and euros.
conversion between + currency + and + currency
- currency conversion
- data conversion
- file conversion
- energy conversion
- unit conversion
- transformation
suggests a more dramatic or complete change than conversion
- changeover
more informal, often used for switching between systems or suppliers
Grammar Patterns
conversion + of + noun + into/to + noun
conversion + from + noun + to + noun
Usage Note
Often followed by from…to… or of…into… to specify what is being changed and what it is changed to.
2. the situation where a person decides to follow a different faith or set of princ
the situation where a person decides to follow a different faith or set of principles than the one they grew up with, usually after thinking deeply about it.
Her conversion to Buddhism happened after she spent a year travelling in Southeast Asia.
conversion + to + [religion]
Bilal's family accepted his conversion to Christianity, though it took them some time to understand.
Élise wrote a research paper on the conversion of indigenous communities to Catholicism during the colonial period.
conversion + of + [people] + to + [religion]
The documentary followed several people through their year-long journey of religious conversion.
- religious conversion
- deathbed conversion
- forced conversion
- mass conversion
- conversion to faith
- adoption
broader — can apply to any practice or idea, not only religion
Grammar Patterns
conversion + to + religion
Usage Note
Typically used with the preposition to: conversion to Islam, conversion to Judaism. May also be qualified as a deathbed conversion (just before death) or forced conversion (under pressure).
3. a place where people live that was originally made for something else — for inst
a place where people live that was originally made for something else — for instance, a home that used to be a school, a church, or a factory.
The Park family bought an old barn and turned it into a beautiful conversion with three bedrooms.
barn conversion — common compound noun
The warehouse conversion on Indra Street has floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed brick walls.
The old schoolhouse was a charming conversion with a modern kitchen and original wooden floors.
conversion — building type as modifier
My aunt lives in a beautiful conversion that was once a Victorian laundry building.
- barn conversion
- loft conversion
- warehouse conversion
- church conversion
- mill conversion
- renovation
broader — implies general repair and modernisation, not a change of original purpose
Grammar Patterns
[building type] + conversion
Usage Note
Frequently used in compound nouns such as barn conversion, loft conversion, church conversion, or warehouse conversion. In real-estate listings, conversion alone often implies a loft or warehouse conversion.
4. in online marketing, the point at which someone looking at an advertisement or b
in online marketing, the point at which someone looking at an advertisement or browsing a website actually does what the advertiser wants — for example, buying an item, joining a mailing list, or filling out a short form.
The new landing page design raised the conversion rate from 2% to almost 5% in one month.
conversion rate — fixed marketing term
Aaron tested three different call-to-action buttons to see which one produced the highest conversion.
Renata redesigned the checkout page and saw an immediate jump in customer conversion.
customer conversion
The company's blog posts drive conversions by answering common questions before asking for a sale.
- conversion rate
- conversion funnel
- conversion tracking
- lead conversion
- customer conversion
Grammar Patterns
conversion + rate
lead + conversion
Usage Note
Common in web analytics and e-commerce. The conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete the desired action, calculated as conversions divided by total visits.
5. in rugby, a kick taken after a try that sends the ball between the two tall post
in rugby, a kick taken after a try that sends the ball between the two tall posts and above the crossbar, earning the team an extra two points.
Nala passed to Eli, who ran in for a try and calmly added the conversion.
add the conversion
The fly-half landed a difficult conversion from the sideline, putting the team three points ahead.
The kicker stepped up to take the conversion, knowing the whole match depended on it.
Late in the second half, the team scored a try but failed to add the conversion.
- conversion kick
- conversion attempt
- add the conversion
- miss the conversion
- land the conversion
Grammar Patterns
[player] + [adds/lands/misses] + the + conversion
Usage Note
Distinguish from try, which is the four-point score that earns the right to attempt a conversion. A conversion is worth two points in rugby union and rugby league.
6. in US football (American football), the chance for a team to get extra points ri
in US football (American football), the chance for a team to get extra points right after scoring a touchdown, usually by kicking the ball between the two tall posts from a short distance.
Christopher kicked the extra-point conversion through the uprights to tie the game at 14-14.
extra-point conversion
After Obi's touchdown run, the conversion attempt was blocked by the defensive line.
The coach decided to go for a two-point conversion instead of the safer kick.
two-point conversion
Late in the fourth quarter, the conversion attempt sailed wide to the right.
- extra-point conversion
- two-point conversion
- conversion attempt
- block the conversion
- kick the conversion
- extra point
more general term for a one-point kick; conversion can also refer to a two-point play
Grammar Patterns
[player] + [kicks/makes/blocks] + the + conversion
Usage Note
A standard conversion (kick) is worth one point. Teams may also attempt a two-point conversion by running or passing the ball into the end zone from the two-yard line. This sense is specific to American and Canadian football — in rugby the equivalent is sense 5 above.