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View synonyms for move

move

[moov]

verb (used without object)

moved, moving 
  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, moving 
  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?

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

    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. move up,  to advance to a higher level.

  2. move on

    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. move over,  to change or cause to change to another position, especially to make room for another.

    to make space by moving over.

  4. move in,  to begin to occupy a place in which to live or work.

  5. move in on

    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. move out,  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. 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. to take every step possible (to achieve something)

“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

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

    1. a player's turn to move his piece or take other permitted action

    2. a permitted manoeuvre of a piece

  4. informal

    1. to get started

    2. to hurry up

  5. informal,  (usually used with a negative) to take even the slightest action

    don't make a move without phoning me

  6. to commit oneself to a position or course of action

    1. travelling from place to place

    2. advancing; succeeding

    3. very active; busy

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • countermove verb
  • outmove verb (used with object)
  • unmoved adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of move1

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

Origin of move1

C13: from Anglo-French mover, from Latin movēre
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. make one's move, to act, especially to assert oneself at an opportune time.

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

  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. get a move on,

    1. to begin; act.

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

    2. to hurry; hasten.

More idioms and phrases containing move

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Synonym Study

See advance. See motion.
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

More recently, the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter has been gradually moving out of the ecliptic plane and is expected to reach latitudes of around 34° in a few years.

Read more on Science Daily

People move to places like Topanga, in part, because they love the chaparral-dotted vistas, the backyard oak woodlands and the privacy of life in the canyon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The bill would also put restrictions on gatherings "in the vicinity of a place of worship" - a move the government has said is in response to a series of "intimidating protests" near synagogues and mosques.

Read more on BBC

At the time, the US voiced strong opposition to the UK and other countries recognising Palestinian statehood, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Hamas would "feel more emboldened" by the move.

Read more on BBC

Theo was subsequently moved to the floor, where resuscitation efforts continued before the ambulance arrived.

Read more on BBC

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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.

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