move

[ moov ]

verb (used without object)

, moved, mov·ing.

1. to pass from one place or position to another.

   Synonyms: budge, stir

2. to go from one place of residence to another:

   They moved from Tennessee to Texas.

   Synonyms: remove

3. to advance or progress:

   The red racing car moved into the lead.

4. to have a regular motion, as an implement or a machine; turn; revolve.

   Synonyms: operate, rotate, gyrate, spin

5. to sell or be sold:

   That new model is moving well.

6. to start off or leave:

   It's time to be moving.

7. to transfer a piece in a game, as chess or checkers.
8. (of the bowels) to discharge or eject the feces; evacuate.
9. to be active in a particular sphere:

   to move in musical society.

10. to take action; proceed.
11. to make a formal request, application, or proposal:

    to move for a new trial.

verb (used with object)

, moved, mov·ing.

1. to change from one place or position to another.

   Synonyms: propel, transfer, shift

   Antonyms: fix

2. to set or keep in motion.

   Synonyms: agitate

3. to prompt, actuate, or impel to some action:

   What moved you to do this?

   Synonyms: lead, instigate, incite, induce, influence

4. to arouse or excite the feelings or passions of; affect with emotion (usually followed by to ):

   to move someone to anger.

5. to affect with tender or compassionate emotion; touch:

   The tale of tragedy moved her.

6. to transfer (a piece in a game) from one position to another.
7. to dispose of (goods) by sale.
8. to cause (the bowels) to discharge or eject the feces.
9. to propose formally, as to a court or judge, or for consideration by a deliberative assembly.
10. to submit a formal request or proposal to (a court, a sovereign, etc.).

noun

1. an act or instance of moving; movement.
2. a change of location or residence.
3. an action toward an objective or goal; step:

   a move toward a higher tax.

4. (in chess, checkers, etc.) a player's right or turn to make a play.
5. a play or maneuver, as in a game or sport.

verb phrase

1. to advance to a higher level.
2. 1. to leave or go away:

      I’ve been in this job ten years and it’s time to move on.

   2. to approach or attack as a military target:

      The army is moving on the capital itself.

   3. to progress or change:

      Those hats were popular once, but fashion has moved on.

   4. to move past an upsetting experience and go on with one’s life.
3. to change or cause to change to another position, especially to make room for another:

   to make space by moving over.

4. to begin to occupy a place in which to live or work.
5. Informal.
   1. to approach or make advances toward usurping another's success, authority, position, or the like.
   2. to take aggressive steps to control or possess:

      The company has not yet moved in on the consumer market.

6. to leave a place in order to start or continue a planned march, maneuver, journey, etc.:

   The troops will move out of the encampment at dawn.

move

/ muːv /

verb

1. to go or take from one place to another; change in location or position
2. usually intr to change (one's dwelling, place of business, etc)
3. to be or cause to be in motion; stir
4. intr (of machines, etc) to work or operate
5. tr to cause (to do something); prompt
6. intr to begin to act

   move soon or we'll lose the order

7. intr to associate oneself with a specified social circle

   to move in exalted spheres

8. intr to make progress
9. tr to arouse affection, pity, or compassion in; touch
10. (in board games) to change the position of (a piece) or (of a piece) to change position
11. intr (of merchandise) to be disposed of by being bought
12. whentr, often takes a clause as object; when intr, often foll by for to suggest (a proposal) formally, as in debating or parliamentary procedure
13. intr; usually foll by on or along to go away or to another place; leave
14. to cause (the bowels) to evacuate or (of the bowels) to be evacuated
15. informal.
    intr to be exciting or active

    the party started moving at twelve

16. move heaven and earth
    to take every step possible (to achieve something)

noun

1. the act of moving; movement
2. one of a sequence of actions, usually part of a plan; manoeuvre
3. the act of moving one's residence, place of business, etc
4. in board games
   1. a player's turn to move his piece or take other permitted action
   2. a permitted manoeuvre of a piece
5. get a move on informal.
   1. to get started
   2. to hurry up
6. make a move informal.
   usually used with a negative to take even the slightest action

   don't make a move without phoning me

7. make one's move
   to commit oneself to a position or course of action
8. on the move
   1. travelling from place to place
   2. advancing; succeeding
   3. very active; busy

Other Words From

• counter·move noun
• counter·move verb countermoved countermoving
• outmove verb (used with object) outmoved outmoving
• un·moved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of move¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English meven, moven, from Anglo-French mover, ultimately from Latin movēre

Word History and Origins

Origin of move¹

C13: from Anglo-French mover, from Latin movēre

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get a move on, Informal.
   1. to begin; act:

      We'd better get a move on before it rains.

   2. to hurry; hasten.
2. make one's move, Informal. to act, especially to assert oneself at an opportune time.
3. on the move,
   1. busy; active:

      on the move from morning till night.

   2. going from place to place:

      Infantry units have been on the move all day.

   3. advancing; progressing:

      an industry on the move.

4. put moves on, Slang. to make sexual advances toward. Also make a move on.

More idioms and phrases containing move

• get a move on
• on the move
• mover

Synonym Study

See advance. See motion.

Example Sentences

Having performed in church and played in a band after high school in Paradise, Smith moved to L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, Prevelo Bikes moved production to Taiwan due to the initial Trump tariffs in 2019, which increased their costs but by less than if they continued to import from China.

From Salon

He later moved to Zimbabwe and later South Africa, where he abused up to 100 boys aged 13 to 17, the review said.

From BBC

This stood him in good stead when he moved to UTV to front its political coverage at a crucial stage in the peace process in the mid-1990s.

From BBC

The Sidemen are used to making content for YouTube, but say they've now "hit the limit" on what they can achieve on the video sharing platform so are moving "to something even bigger".

From BBC

Related Words

• advance
• blow
• carry
• change
• climb
• cross
• drift
• drive
• flow
• fly
• go
• jump
• leave
• migrate
• proceed
• progress
• propel
• push
• relocate
• remove