Move

/muːv/ noun, verb

noun, verb ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The act of moving; a movement.
  • Grammar: move is listed as noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: motion, movement, relocation, travel.
  • Useful contrasts: based, becalmed, static planting.
  • Usage evidence: Move over a little if you please.

How to use "move"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "move" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "move" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "move" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "move" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "move" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "motion" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "move", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of moving; a movement.

    "A slight move of the tiller, and the boat will go off course."

  2. 2
    the act of deciding to do something wordnet
  3. 3
    An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose.

    "He made another move towards becoming a naturalized citizen."

  4. 4
    (game) a player's turn to take some action permitted by the rules of the game wordnet
  5. 5
    A formalized or practiced action used in athletics, dance, physical exercise, self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, etc.

    "She always gets spontaneous applause for that one move."

Show 9 more definitions
  1. 6
    the act of changing your residence or place of business wordnet
  2. 7
    The event of changing one's residence.

    "The move into my fiancé's house took two long days."

  3. 8
    the act of changing location from one place to another wordnet
  4. 9
    A change in strategy.

    "I am worried about our boss's move."

  5. 10
    a change of position that does not entail a change of location wordnet
  6. 11
    A transfer, a change from one employer to another.

    "Robin van Persie squandered United's best chance late on but otherwise it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for Liverpool's new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who has yet to concede a Premier League goal since his £9m summer move from Sunderland."

  7. 12
    The act of moving a token on a gameboard from one position to another according to the rules of the game.

    "The best move of the game was when he sacrificed his rook in order to gain better possession."

  8. 13
    A round, in which each player has a turn. plural-normally

    "You can win in three moves if you do that."

  9. 14
    Within the Minimalist Program, a fundamental operation of syntactic construction
Verb
  1. 1
    To change place or posture; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another. intransitive

    "A ship moves rapidly."

  2. 2
    be in a state of action wordnet
  3. 3
    To act; to take action; to begin to act intransitive

    "to move in a matter"

  4. 4
    go or proceed from one point to another wordnet
  5. 5
    To change residence, for example from one house, town, or state, to another; to go and live at another place. See also move out and move in. intransitive

    "I decided to move to the country for a more peaceful life."

Show 26 more definitions
  1. 6
    progress by being changed wordnet
  2. 7
    To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another ergative, transitive

    "The waves moved the boat up and down."

  3. 8
    propose formally; in a debate or parliamentary meeting wordnet
  4. 9
    To transfer (a piece) from one space or position on the board to another. transitive

    "She moved the queen closer to the centre of the board."

  5. 10
    have a turn; make one's move in a game wordnet
  6. 11
    To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence. transitive

    "This song moves me to dance."

  7. 12
    give an incentive for action wordnet
  8. 13
    To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion, to excite (for example, an emotion). transitive

    "That book really moved me."

  9. 14
    have an emotional or cognitive impact upon wordnet
  10. 15
    To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit intransitive, transitive

    "I move to repeal the rule regarding obligatory school uniform."

  11. 16
    arouse sympathy or compassion in wordnet
  12. 17
    To mention; to raise (a question); to suggest (a course of action); to lodge (a complaint). obsolete, transitive
  13. 18
    move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion wordnet
  14. 19
    To incite, urge (someone to do something); to solicit (someone for or of an issue); to make a proposal to. obsolete, transitive

    ""Sir," seyde Sir Boys, "ye nede nat to meve me of such maters, for well ye wote I woll do what I may to please you.""

  15. 20
    change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically wordnet
  16. 21
    To apply to, as for aid. obsolete, transitive

    "To me she speaks; she moves me for her them"

  17. 22
    cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense wordnet
  18. 23
    To request an action from the court. intransitive, transitive

    "An attorney moved the court to issue a restraining order."

  19. 24
    change residence, affiliation, or place of employment wordnet
  20. 25
    To bow or salute upon meeting. intransitive, obsolete
  21. 26
    dispose of by selling wordnet
  22. 27
    To sell or market (especially physical inventory or illicit drugs). transitive

    "This business will fail if it can't move the inventory quickly."

  23. 28
    perform an action, or work out or perform (an action) wordnet
  24. 29
    To transfer the value of one object in memory to another efficiently (i.e., without copying it in entirety). transitive

    "We didn’t really want a copy; we just wanted to get the result out of a function: we wanted to move a Vector rather than to copy it."

  25. 30
    follow a procedure or take a course wordnet
  26. 31
    live one's life in a specified environment wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
motionmovementrelocationtravelaccomplished factaccomplishment

Antonyms

basedbecalmedstatic plantingstatic views

Example

"Move over a little if you please."

Common questions

What does "move" mean?

The act of moving; a movement.

What is a synonym for "move"?

Common synonyms include: motion, movement, relocation, travel, accomplished fact, accomplishment.

How do you use "move" in a sentence?

Move over a little if you please.

How do you pronounce "move"?

Pronounced /muːv/.

Etymology

From Middle English moven, moeven, meven, borrowed from Old Northern French mover, moveir and Old French mouver, moveir (“to move”) (compare modern French mouvoir from Old French movoir), from Latin movēre (“move; change, exchange, go in or out, quit”), from Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- (“to move, drive”). Cognate with Lithuanian mauti (“to push on, rush”), Sanskrit मीवति (mī́vati, “pushes, presses, moves”), Middle Dutch mouwe (“sleeve”). Largely displaced native English stir, from Middle English stiren, sturien, from Old English styrian.

More for "move"

Synonyms

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