motion

[ moh-shuhn ]

/ ˈmoʊ ʃən /

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noun

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.

verb (used with object)

to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand: to motion a person to a seat.

verb (used without object)

to make a meaningful motion, as with the hand; gesture; signal: to motion to someone to come.

OTHER WORDS FOR motion

3 bearing, carriage.

See synonyms for motion on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about motion

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.

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 movēremove) + -iōn--ion

synonym study for motion

1. 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 WORDS FROM motion

mo·tion·al, adjectivemo·tion·er, nounin·ter·mo·tion, nounnon·mo·tion, noun

self-motion, nounun·der·mo·tion, nounun·mo·tioned, adjectiveun·mo·tion·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use motion in a sentence

The conversation, Hogan said, set in motion negotiations with the South Korean company LabGenomics.
Hogan’s first batch of coronavirus tests from South Korea were flawed, never used|Steve Thompson|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Within special relativity, there was no way to blame the force that comes with acceleration on relative motion.
When Einstein Tilted at Windmills - Issue 93: Forerunners|Amanda Gefter|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
Those measurements of internal motion were difficult to make — and they just turned out to be wrong.
These are science’s Top 10 erroneous results|Tom Siegfried|November 10, 2020|Science News
The motion is simply another layer of the controller’s capabilities.
Video games feel different on the PlayStation 5 and that’s a good thing|Stan Horaczek|November 9, 2020|Popular-Science

On Carolina’s 1-yard line in the second quarter, Mahomes lined up in the shotgun, went in motion to the right, came back to the left to catch the snap while on the move, then wheeled back to his right.
What to know for NFL Week 9: Tua Tagovailoa arrives, and Tom Brady’s Buccaneers take a beating|Adam Kilgore|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
The ideas and actions of the understanding are the motional phenomena of the central nervous system.
The History of Creation, Vol. I (of 2)|Ernst Haeckel
At no point below its present position could there have been such a prelude—musical as well as motional—to the great cataract.
The Falls of Niagara and Other Famous Cataracts|George W. Holley
Real sympathy is motional as well as emotional; energetic, as well as pathetic, taking no pleasure in "tears, idle tears."
A Hundred and Sixty Books by Washington Authors|Various
Boggs, who's 'motional an' easy worked on, even gets to whar he gives it out he's actchooally a convert.
Faro Nell and Her Friends|Alfred Henry Lewis
All motional causes act in the direction of the straight line of junction, and so forth.
Popular scientific lectures|Ernst Mach

British Dictionary definitions for motion (1 of 2)

motion

/ (ˈməʊʃən) /

noun

the process of continual change in the physical position of an object; movementlinear motion Related adjective: kinetic

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

British

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 motionSee also parallel (def. 3)

go through the motions

to act or perform the task (of doing something) mechanically or without sincerity
to mimic the action (of something) by gesture

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

verb

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

Derived forms of motion

motional, adjective

Word Origin for motion

C15: from Latin mōtiō a moving, from movēre to move

British Dictionary definitions for motion (2 of 2)

Motion

/ (ˈməʊʃən) /

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with motion

motion

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

motion

OTHER WORDS FOR motion

Idioms about motion

Origin of motion

synonym study for motion

OTHER WORDS FROM motion

Words related to motion

How to use motion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for motion (1 of 2)

Derived forms of motion

Word Origin for motion

British Dictionary definitions for motion (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with motion