Definition

1. Noun:

   • A formal walk by a group of people, especially soldiers, with regular steps: A procession or organized movement, often for a specific purpose like protest or ceremony.
   • A piece of music with a strong, regular rhythm suitable for marching: A genre of music, typically for military bands, composed to accompany marching.
   • The act of walking with regular, measured steps: The action or sound of marching.
   • Steady, purposeful progress or advance: A figurative use describing the continuous, inevitable movement of something like time or science.
   • A border region or frontier: (Often plural: marches) A district along a border.
   • The third month of the year.

2. Verb:

   • To walk with regular, deliberate steps, especially in a group: To walk in a military manner or as part of a procession.
   • To walk quickly and with determination: To walk in a brisk, purposeful way.
   • To participate in a protest march: To walk with others in a public demonstration.
   • To cause someone or something to march: To make someone walk in this manner, often under orders.
   • To border on; to lie adjacent to: (Archaic/formal) To share a boundary with another area.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The veterans led the march to the war memorial. (A formal procession)
  • The band played a rousing march. (A piece of music)
  • We could hear the march of soldiers in the distance. (The sound/action of marching)
  • We cannot stop the march of technology. (Steady advance)
  • He was born on the first of March. (The month)

• Verb:

  • The soldiers march in perfect formation. (Walk with regular steps)
  • She marched into the office and demanded an explanation. (Walked quickly with determination)
  • Thousands will march for climate justice this weekend. (Participate in a protest)
  • The sergeant marched the new recruits around the parade ground. (Caused to march)
  • The estate marches with the national park. (Borders on; formal usage)

Advanced Usage

• "To steal a march on (someone)": To gain an advantage over someone by acting before they do.

  • By launching the product early, they stole a march on their competitors.

• "On the march":

  • Actively marching or advancing.

    • The army was on the march at dawn.
  • Making strong and steady progress.

    • The movement for equality is on the march.

• "A march past": A ceremonial parade in which troops march past a reviewing stand.

  • The graduation ceremony included a march past of the cadets.

Variants and Related Words

• Marcher (n): A person who marches, especially in a protest.

  • The marchers carried signs and chanted slogans.

• Marching (adj/n): Used to describe things related to a march.

  • The marching band performed at halftime. (Adjective)
  • The sound of marching echoed through the streets. (Noun, gerund form of the verb)

Synonyms

• Noun (Procession): Parade, procession, walk.
• Verb (Walk purposefully): Stride, tread, pace.
• Verb (Advance): Advance, progress, move forward.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• March on: To continue marching; to advance toward a place.

  • The protesters plan to march on the capital.

• March off: To leave by marching, often in an orderly or formal way.

  • The platoon marched off to their next assignment.

• March out: To exit by marching.

  • The guards marched out of the courtyard.

Related Idioms

• March to the beat of your own drum: To behave in a way that is different from the norm; to be independent.

  • She's never cared about fashion trends; she marches to the beat of her own drum.

• A march of time: The inevitable and continuous passage of time.

  • The old photographs showed the relentless march of time on the city's architecture.

Noun

1. a degree granted for the successful completion of advanced study of architecture
2. genre of music written for marching
   • Sousa wrote the best marches
3. district consisting of the area on either side of a border or boundary of a country or an area
   • the Welsh marches between England and Wales
4. a procession of people walking together
   • the march went up Fifth Avenue
5. a steady advance
   • the march of science
   • the march of time
6. the act of marching; walking with regular steps (especially in a procession of some kind)
   • it was a long march
   • we heard the sound of marching
7. the month following February and preceding April

Verb

1. lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
   • Canada adjoins the U.S.
   • England marches with Scotland
2. cause to march or go at a marching pace
   • They marched the mules into the desert
3. walk ostentatiously
   • She parades her new husband around town
4. march in protest; take part in a demonstration
   • Thousands demonstrated against globalization during the meeting of the most powerful economic nations in Seattle
5. walk fast, with regular or measured steps; walk with a stride
   • He marched into the classroom and announced the exam
   • The soldiers marched across the border
6. force to march
   • The Japanese marched their prisoners through Manchuria
7. march in a procession
   • They processed into the dining room