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• motion
  motion

  noun

  the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement.
• Motion
  Motion

  noun

  Sir Andrew. born 1952, British poet and biographer; his collections include Pleasure Steamers (1978) and Public Property (2002): poet laureate (1999–2009)

motion

American  

[moh-shuhn] / ˈmoʊ ʃən /

noun

• motions
  plural

1. the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement.

2. power of movement, as of a living body.

3. the manner of moving the body in walking; gait.

   Synonyms:

   carriage, bearing

4. a bodily movement or change of posture; gesture.

5. a proposal formally made to a deliberative assembly.

   to make a motion to adjourn.

6. Law. an application made to a court or judge for an order, ruling, or the like.

7. a suggestion or proposal.

8. an inward prompting or impulse; inclination.

   He will go only of his own motion.

9. Music. melodic progression, as the change of a voice part from one pitch to another.

10. Machinery.

    1. a piece of mechanism with a particular action or function.

    2. the action of such a mechanism.

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verb (used with object)

• motions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• motioned,
  past participle,  past
• motioning
  present participle

1. to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand.

   to motion a person to a seat.

verb (used without object)

• motions,
  present (3rd person singular)
• motioned,
  past participle,  past
• motioning
  present participle

1. to make a meaningful motion, as with the hand; gesture; signal.

   to motion to someone to come.

idioms

1. go through the motions, to do something halfheartedly, routinely, or as a formality or façade.

2. in motion, in active operation; moving.

   The train was already in motion when he tried to board it.

motion ¹ British  

/ ˈməʊʃən /

noun

1. the process of continual change in the physical position of an object; movement

   linear motion

2. a movement or action, esp of part of the human body; a gesture

3. 1. the capacity for movement

   2. a manner of movement, esp walking; gait

4. a mental impulse

5. a formal proposal to be discussed and voted on in a debate, meeting, etc

6. law an application made to a judge or court for an order or ruling necessary to the conduct of legal proceedings

7. 1. the evacuation of the bowels

   2. excrement

8. 1. part of a moving mechanism

   2. the action of such a part

9. music the upward or downward course followed by a part or melody. Parts whose progressions are in the same direction exhibit similar motion , while two parts whose progressions are in opposite directions exhibit contrary motion See also parallel

10. 1. to act or perform the task (of doing something) mechanically or without sincerity

    2. to mimic the action (of something) by gesture

11. operational or functioning (often in the phrases set in motion, set the wheels in motion )

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verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to signal or direct (a person) by a movement or gesture

Motion ² British  

/ ˈməʊʃən /

noun

1. Sir Andrew. born 1952, British poet and biographer; his collections include Pleasure Steamers (1978) and Public Property (2002): poet laureate (1999–2009)

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motion More Idioms  

1. see go through the motions; set in motion; set the wheels in motion.

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Synonym Usage

Motion, move, movement refer to change of position in space. Motion denotes change of position, either considered apart from, or as a characteristic of, something that moves; usually the former, in which case it is often a somewhat technical or scientific term: perpetual motion. The chief uses of move are founded upon the idea of moving a piece, in chess or a similar game, for winning the game, and hence the word denotes any change of position, condition, or circumstances for the accomplishment of some end: a shrewd move to win votes. Movement is always connected with the person or thing moving, and is usually a definite or particular motion: the movements of a dance.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intermotion
  noun
• motioner
  noun
• nonmotion
  noun
• self-motion
  noun
• undermotion
  noun
• motional
  adjective
• unmotioned
  adjective
• unmotioning
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• motions
  plural

Participles

• motioning
  present
• motioned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• motion
  simple
• motions
  simple
• have motioned
  perfect
• has motioned
  perfect
• am motioning
  progressive
• are motioning
  progressive
• is motioning
  progressive
• have been motioning
  perfect progressive
• has been motioning
  perfect progressive

Past

• motioned
  simple
• had motioned
  perfect
• was motioning
  progressive
• were motioning
  progressive
• had been motioning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will motion
  simple
• will have motioned
  perfect
• will be motioning
  progressive
• will have been motioning
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of motion

First recorded before 1350–1400; Middle English mocio(u)n, from Latin mōtiōn- (stem of mōtiō ), equivalent to mōt(us) (past participle of movēre move ) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

Motion is the way things get from place to place. The ball rolling down a hill is in motion, and as Isaac Newton once proved, it will remain in motion until it hits a wall or something else that makes it stop. When motion is used as a noun, it describes movement, like the motion that propels a car from one end of the highway to another. When used as a verb, motion means to signal or direct. "A restaurant patron will motion to the server when he's ready for the check." Someone who is just "going through the motions" doesn't have to move at all, because they're just pretending.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

motion Motion motions motioned motioning

Teymouri filed a motion last week seeking to have the couple held on $100 million bail, citing their extreme wealth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

“Not only am I not finding barf bags in the seat pocket, I’m also finding trash from prior passengers,” the 31-year-old motion designer from Atlanta said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Vortex motion was governed by quantum tunneling, a phenomenon in which quantum objects can pass through energy barriers that would normally prevent their movement under classical physics.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke announced Friday that the state filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit by the neighboring state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The simple motion quiets my brain, just like it does when I take out my coloring-for-stress-relief book before a test.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Motion capture cameras recorded their movements in detail, allowing the researchers to analyze how different walking styles affected the knee.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

Last month, a bipartisan group of congressional leaders officially introduced the Motion Picture, Television and Entertainment Revitalization Act.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences signed an agreement to move the Oscars to YouTube starting in 2029.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Motion sickness doesn't affect all EV passengers - many owners got in touch with BBC News to say they and their relatives don't get sick in electric vehicles.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

There was a great Motion in the Camp & we all fell out & our Company was placed beside a line of Wagons.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

“This is one area we’re not quite confident in,” Pinkerton said as we watched the robot attempt to align a glass on the dishwasher’s prongs with motions suggestive of a claw-machine arm.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Crocodiles, for example, lift their heads and make sudden jerking motions to move unchewed food down their throats.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

Meanwhile, Clancy’s attorneys have filed motions of their own.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

"This year I'm here, and I'm kind of just going through the motions, really."

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

With slow, careful motions, I scoot to the edge of the bed.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

Within seconds of our arrival, they motioned for us to stop filming.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

He motioned for me to lead us back into the water.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

The photographer motioned her over, and took her picture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

During parts of Sunday’s game in Utah, James desperately motioned toward the Lakers bench for a sub.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2025

Then she added more gold stellas to the stack and motioned at it.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

“Is it possible to go farther in that direction?” he asked the soldier, motioning toward Ukrainian territory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

“You’ve got to park in this monster,” he said, motioning to the acres of asphalt around him, “and then go find your seat in that monster.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

"Ok," said Trump as Rubio went back to his seat, motioning for reporters to be quiet as they shouted questions.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025

"This should all be underwater," he says, motioning towards the parched expanse of exposed white rocks.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025

“Same thing you’re doing here,” he says, motioning to the marquee and then holding out his fist.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

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Related Words

• plan
• proposal
• proposition
• recommendation
• submission

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