Definition

1. Noun:

   • An act of changing physical location: The act or process of going from one place or position to another.
   • A change of place or position: A specific instance of shifting or being shifted.
   • A player's turn in a game: An opportunity or requirement for a player to make a play in a board game, sport, etc.
   • A step taken to achieve a purpose: An action or initiative, especially one forming part of a plan.

2. Verb:

   • To change position or location: To go from one place or point to another; to cause something to do this.
   • To take action: To begin to act or operate.
   • To cause a strong feeling: To stir the emotions of someone; to affect emotionally.
   • To propose formally: To put forward a suggestion or motion for consideration, especially in a formal meeting.
   • To change one's residence: To go to live in a different place.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The police watched every move of the suspect. (The police observed every action and change of position of the suspect.)
  • It's your move in the chess game. (It is now your turn to play in the chess game.)
  • Getting a new job was a smart career move. (Getting a new job was a wise step for her career.)

• Verb:

  • Please move your car; it's blocking the driveway. (Please change the location of your car.)
  • The story moved her to tears. (The story emotionally affected her, causing her to cry.)
  • I move that we adjourn the meeting. (I formally propose that we end the meeting.)
  • We will move to a bigger house next month. (We will change our residence to a bigger house next month.)

Advanced Usage

• "to move on": to leave a place, situation, or topic and progress to the next one.
  • After discussing the budget, the committee moved on to the next agenda item.
• "to move in on": to approach or encroach upon, often with an intent to take control.
  • The large corporation is moving in on the small local market.
• "to move with the times": to adapt one's ideas or behavior to contemporary trends.
  • The company updated its software to move with the times.

Variants and Related Words

• Movement (n): The act or process of moving; a group of people working together for a common cause.
  • The civil rights movement fought for equality.
• Movable (adj): Capable of being moved.
  • The furniture is lightweight and movable.
• Mover (n): A person or company that moves household goods; a person who initiates something.
  • She was a prime mover in establishing the new community center.

Synonyms

• Verb: Shift, relocate, transfer, stir, propose, affect.
• Noun: Motion, relocation, step, action, turn.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Move along: To proceed forward or to instruct someone to leave a place.
  • The officer told the crowd to move along.
• Move out: To leave one's current residence permanently.
  • Our tenants are scheduled to move out next week.
• Move up: To advance to a higher level or position.
  • He moved up quickly within the company.

Related Idioms

• Make a move: To take action, especially a decisive one.
  • If you like her, you should make a move and ask her out.
• On the move: Actively traveling or progressing.
  • With my new job, I'm constantly on the move.
• Get a move on: To hurry up.
  • Get a move on, or we'll be late!

Noun

1. (game) a player's turn to take some action permitted by the rules of the game
2. the act of changing location from one place to another
   • police controlled the motion of the crowd
   • the movement of people from the farms to the cities
   • his move put him directly in my path
3. a change of position that does not entail a change of location
   • the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
   • movement is a sign of life
   • an impatient move of his hand
   • gastrointestinal motility
4. the act of changing your residence or place of business
   • they say that three moves equal one fire
5. the act of deciding to do something
   • he didn't make a move to help
   • his first move was to hire a lawyer

Verb

1. propose formally; in a debate or parliamentary meeting
2. have a turn; make one's move in a game
   • Can I go now?
3. live one's life in a specified environment
   • she moves in certain circles only
4. progress by being changed
   • The speech has to go through several more drafts
   • run through your presentation before the meeting
5. dispose of by selling
   • The chairman of the company told the salesmen to move the computers
6. arouse sympathy or compassion in
   • Her fate moved us all
7. give an incentive for action
   • This moved me to sacrifice my career
8. have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
   • This child impressed me as unusually mature
   • This behavior struck me as odd
9. perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
   • think before you act
   • We must move quickly
   • The governor should act on the new energy bill
   • The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel
10. go or proceed from one point to another
    • the debate moved from family values to the economy
11. be in a state of action
    • she is always moving
12. follow a procedure or take a course
    • We should go farther in this matter
    • She went through a lot of trouble
    • go about the world in a certain manner
    • Messages must go through diplomatic channels
13. change residence, affiliation, or place of employment
    • We moved from Idaho to Nebraska
    • The basketball player moved from one team to another
14. move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
    • He moved his hand slightly to the right
15. cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
    • Move those boxes into the corner, please
    • I'm moving my money to another bank
    • The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant
16. change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
    • How fast does your new car go?
    • We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus
    • The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect
    • The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell
    • news travelled fast