move
Americanverb (used without object)
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to pass from one place or position to another.
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to go from one place of residence to another.
They moved from Tennessee to Texas.
- Synonyms:
- remove
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to advance or progress.
The red racing car moved into the lead.
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to have a regular motion, as an implement or a machine; turn; revolve.
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to sell or be sold.
That new model is moving well.
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to start off or leave.
It's time to be moving.
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to transfer a piece in a game, as chess or checkers.
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(of the bowels) to discharge or eject the feces; evacuate.
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to be active in a particular sphere.
to move in musical society.
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to take action; proceed.
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to make a formal request, application, or proposal.
to move for a new trial.
verb (used with object)
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to change from one place or position to another.
- Antonyms:
- fix
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to set or keep in motion.
- Synonyms:
- agitate
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to prompt, actuate, or impel to some action.
What moved you to do this?
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to arouse or excite the feelings or passions of; affect with emotion (usually followed byto ).
to move someone to anger.
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to affect with tender or compassionate emotion; touch.
The tale of tragedy moved her.
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to transfer (a piece in a game) from one position to another.
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to dispose of (goods) by sale.
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to cause (the bowels) to discharge or eject the feces.
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to propose formally, as to a court or judge, or for consideration by a deliberative assembly.
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to submit a formal request or proposal to (a court, a sovereign, etc.).
noun
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an act or instance of moving; movement.
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a change of location or residence.
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an action toward an objective or goal; step.
a move toward a higher tax.
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(in chess, checkers, etc.) a player's right or turn to make a play.
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a play or maneuver, as in a game or sport.
verb phrase
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move up to advance to a higher level.
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move on
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to leave or go away.
I’ve been in this job ten years and it’s time to move on.
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to approach or attack as a military target.
The army is moving on the capital itself.
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to progress or change.
Those hats were popular once, but fashion has moved on.
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to move past an upsetting experience and go on with one’s life.
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move over to change or cause to change to another position, especially to make room for another.
to make space by moving over.
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move in to begin to occupy a place in which to live or work.
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move in on
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to approach or make advances toward usurping another's success, authority, position, or the like.
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to take aggressive steps to control or possess.
The company has not yet moved in on the consumer market.
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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
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make one's move, to act, especially to assert oneself at an opportune time.
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put moves on, to make sexual advances toward. Also make a move on.
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on the move,
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busy; active.
on the move from morning till night.
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going from place to place.
Infantry units have been on the move all day.
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advancing; progressing.
an industry on the move.
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get a move on,
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to begin; act.
We'd better get a move on before it rains.
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to hurry; hasten.
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verb
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to go or take from one place to another; change in location or position
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(usually intr) to change (one's dwelling, place of business, etc)
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to be or cause to be in motion; stir
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(intr) (of machines, etc) to work or operate
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(tr) to cause (to do something); prompt
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(intr) to begin to act
move soon or we'll lose the order
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(intr) to associate oneself with a specified social circle
to move in exalted spheres
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(intr) to make progress
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(tr) to arouse affection, pity, or compassion in; touch
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(in board games) to change the position of (a piece) or (of a piece) to change position
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(intr) (of merchandise) to be disposed of by being bought
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to suggest (a proposal) formally, as in debating or parliamentary procedure
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(intr; usually foll by on or along) to go away or to another place; leave
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to cause (the bowels) to evacuate or (of the bowels) to be evacuated
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informal (intr) to be exciting or active
the party started moving at twelve
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to take every step possible (to achieve something)
noun
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the act of moving; movement
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one of a sequence of actions, usually part of a plan; manoeuvre
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the act of moving one's residence, place of business, etc
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a player's turn to move his piece or take other permitted action
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a permitted manoeuvre of a piece
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informal
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to get started
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to hurry up
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informal (usually used with a negative) to take even the slightest action
don't make a move without phoning me
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to commit oneself to a position or course of action
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travelling from place to place
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advancing; succeeding
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very active; busy
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Related Words
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of move
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English meven, moven, from Anglo-French mover, ultimately from Latin movēre
Explanation
To move is to shift your position or change where you are. It can be a little spooky to hear a sleepwalker move around a dark house at night. You can move from one room to another, or move from Oregon to New Hampshire, changing the place where you live. Dancers move their bodies as they move around on a stage, and chess players move pieces strategically on the board. If someone inspires you to do something, or makes you feel an intense emotion, you can also say that they move you. When your dad says, "Get a move on!" he basically means "Hurry up!"
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.
One crucial indicator for the market that Hartnett is following closely is the Merrill Option Volatility Estimate Index, or MOVE, a measure of volatility in the bond market.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026
While in college, Pomer produced a documentary on the 1978 battle between Philadelphia police and the communal organization MOVE, and later worked on the independent news broadcast Democracy Now.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2023
The trips were made when the department, known as DG MOVE, was involved in negotiating an EU-Qatar air transport agreement, which was signed on 18 October 2021.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2023
When Lionell returned to pick up their ashes, however, he was told that all the remains had been returned to MOVE.
From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2022
There were four rules for sending messages in the field: SEND, RECEIVE, ROGER, and MOVE!
From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac
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.
