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Synonyms

move

American  
[moov] / muv /

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?

    Synonyms:
    lead, instigate, incite, induce, influence
  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.

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.

move British  
/ 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
move More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing move


Related Words

See advance. See motion.

Other Word Forms

  • countermove noun
  • outmove verb (used with object)
  • unmoved adjective

Etymology

Origin of move

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

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.

“He’s very special, very normal, and very kind, and wants to help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity. It’s a beautiful thing to commit your life to.”

From MarketWatch

The move shows appetite for AI chips is robust and that suppliers are struggling to meet demand despite some investors’ concerns that high spending commitments are creating an AI bubble that is waiting to burst.

From The Wall Street Journal

The dinosaur had specialized teeth and appears to have changed posture as it grew, relying on short bursts of speed to move through dense forest habitats.

From Science Daily

In the Republic of Ireland, under a redeployment scheme, teachers can be moved to work in a different school if their own school has too many teachers.

From BBC

News of the Harden deal came amid a flurry of reported moves on Tuesday as the NBA's Thursday trade deadline approaches.

From Barron's