the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement.
power of movement, as of a living body.
the manner of moving the body in walking; gait.
a bodily movement or change of posture; gesture.
a proposal formally made to a deliberative assembly.
to make a motion to adjourn.
Law. an application made to a court or judge for an order, ruling, or the like.
a suggestion or proposal.
an inward prompting or impulse; inclination.
He will go only of his own motion.
Music. melodic progression, as the change of a voice part from one pitch to another.
Machinery.
a piece of mechanism with a particular action or function.
the action of such a mechanism.
go through the motions, to do something halfheartedly, routinely, or as a formality or façade.
in motion, in active operation; moving.
The train was already in motion when he tried to board it.
the process of continual change in the physical position of an object; movement
linear motion
a movement or action, esp of part of the human body; a gesture
the capacity for movement
a manner of movement, esp walking; gait
a mental impulse
a formal proposal to be discussed and voted on in a debate, meeting, etc
law an application made to a judge or court for an order or ruling necessary to the conduct of legal proceedings
the evacuation of the bowels
excrement
part of a moving mechanism
the action of such a part
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
to act or perform the task (of doing something) mechanically or without sincerity
to mimic the action (of something) by gesture
operational or functioning (often in the phrases set in motion, set the wheels in motion )
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.
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
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Labour councillor Andre Bourne said: "We are in support of this motion; however, we are making amendments to strengthen it – we are here to support your motion."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Novo Nordisk said the motion, to be filed on Aug. 17, will ask the court to stop Eli Lilly from advertising its GLP-1 weight-loss drugs while the lawsuit proceeds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
"You don't just learn that something is a planet; you immediately begin learning about its temperature, chemistry, and motion."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
The newspaper had challenged the government requests for phone records of reporters and grand jury testimony as an attempt to "intimidate" the press and filed a motion to have them quashed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
It took a while to set a plan in motion.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
It being passed over for a best picture Oscars nomination was one of the reasons the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opened the category to 10 nominees instead of five the following year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
England fans still enjoy a good World in Motion singalong.
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
The Director’s Guild of America has struck a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, completing the negotiation cycle for Hollywood’s major unions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
However, the broadcast regulator’s decision has garnered harsh criticism from the powerful Motion Picture Association, which said Canada was imposing “unprecedented, unnecessary, and discriminatory investment obligations” on U.S. entertainment companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
“So me standing here moving is proof that Zeno was wrong and silly and just wasting our time. Motion is possible, and everyone in this room knows it.”
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
“Council can pass legislation ... move motions forward, but it is the mayor that has charge of the implementation and outcomes,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Lawyers for the Times filed motions to quash all the subpoenas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Those tiny motions create an energy gap that allows quasiparticles to emerge from what would otherwise remain a highly correlated quantum background.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
In the role, he is responsible for delivering the government’s legislative programme, by working closely with the chief whip to manage Commons business, like motions and debates.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
He starts to turn the crank, efficient semicircular motions, jerking the crank upward and then releasing and repeating.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
She motioned to the Egyptian busts and said: "These heads, they talk to me."
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
He motioned for me to lead us back into the water.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Finally, he motioned the audience to stop, like, “OK. OK. Enough. Let’s go have dinner and a drink.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
Soldiers were always nearby when AFP spoke to locals and on one occasion in Bariire motioned a woman to say no when asked if she feared Al-Shabaab's possible return.
From Barron's ● Nov. 18, 2025
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
Izzo could be seen from the sideline apparently motioning for Davis to leave and saying, “Get out of here.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2026
After seeing three tries ruled out by the television match official, Freeman and Henry Pollock both celebrated undeniable scores by motioning for a video review.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025
"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
“Come on in, folks,” he said, moving out of our way and motioning us inside.
From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
