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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

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

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

"We just filed our motion in state court, explaining why the state charges must be dismissed under New York's double jeopardy protections," said Mangione's lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo on Friday after the guilty plea.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

In August 2024 he rejected a motion to dismiss a private suit against Harvard, writing, “the facts as pled show that Harvard failed its Jewish students.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The valence quarks, however, continue to carry much of the proton's forward motion.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

In November, he proposed a council motion, which was amended before being passed, asking officials to draw up proposals for a "full range of enforcement routes" for the site.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

I copy her finger motion, feigning ignorance, even though I know what she’s talking about.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Clark had worked with Murati at Leap Motion, a company that made a virtual-reality hand-tracking device.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Graham Motion, who trained Animal Kingdom to a Kentucky Derby victory in 2011, said he had been against changing the Triple Crown schedule but that Maryland’s hand appeared to be forced.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

Stunt performers are also finally getting recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Devlin also believes 1990 was a transformational year in the history of the World Cup song, citing the technical innovation of World In Motion and Put 'Em Under Pressure.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

The following preview has been approved for all audiences by the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. All Charlie Tanner wanted was to live happily ever after.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

The findings offer new clues about the turbulent motions responsible for producing Earth's magnetic field.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

NSO astronomer Dr David Kuridze, told BBC News: "These twisting motions are creating magnetic energy, which can build up to produce those large-scale explosions."

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

The council has authored other motions to limit e-bikes elsewhere, including a ban for e-bikes on equestrian and hiking trails.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

The ride and roadholding compromise is well struck, with road impacts well damped and muffled, and transient body motions kept in check.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

She motions at me to join her, but I shake my head.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

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

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Melonie Walcott, an HIV researcher, held an imaginary fishing rod and motioned reeling in a catch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

During the second set, he motioned to Copi to come sit on the edge of the stage and listen to the band.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

Glenn then quickly motioned for Liu and Levito to join her in the kiss-and-cry area.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026

She sat at our kitchen table and motioned for me to sit beside her.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

"Silencio" the rescuers scream turning towards the road with their fists up in the air, motioning to everyone to remain silent.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 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

He stretched the defense back beyond the three-point line, answering Minnesota jumpers with shots of his own, motioning for the crowd to calm down twice during the second quarter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2025

“Just above the theater,” he says, motioning to the main floor.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

• plan
• proposal
• proposition
• recommendation
• submission