Definition of move verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

move

verb

/muːv/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they move	/muːv/ /muːv/
he / she / it moves	/muːvz/ /muːvz/
past simple moved	/muːvd/ /muːvd/
past participle moved	/muːvd/ /muːvd/
-ing form moving	/ˈmuːvɪŋ/ /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

jump to other results

change position

[intransitive, transitive] to change position or make somebody/something change position in a way that can be seen, heard or felt

Don't move—stay perfectly still.
The bus was already moving when I jumped onto it.
The ball was really moving (= moving fast) when it reached him.
+ adv./prep. He could hear someone moving around in the room above.
Phil moved towards the window.
You can hardly move in this pub on Saturdays (= because it is so crowded).
You can't move for books in her room.
Temperatures will drop as the cold front moves down across France.
move something I can't move my fingers.
move something + adv./prep. We moved our chairs a little nearer.
She moved the ball toward the opponent's goal.
He moved his arm away from his face.

Extra Examples

Over a million people move around this city daily.
Investors can move money into foreign bonds when the dollar is weak.
Black clouds moved across the sky.
Can you move down the steps?
Move your chairs a little closer.
Someone had moved the bike from where I left it.
The papers on his desk had been moved.
We moved a little nearer.
The traffic moved slowly along the highway.

Want to learn more?

Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.

change house/job

[intransitive, transitive] to change the place where you live, have your work, etc.

We don't like it here so we've decided to move.
move (from…) (to…) The company's moving to Scotland.
People move from place to place today in ever greater numbers.
move away She's been all on her own since her daughter moved away.
move house (British English) We moved house last week.

Extra Examples

In 1905 his family moved to Milan, where he studied sculpture.
There are a lot more people moving across borders.
They've moved house three times in the past year.
We moved here in 2003.
Moving can be an extremely stressful experience.
All her family have moved away so she's on her own.
He worked as a sales rep before moving to the marketing department.

Topics Houses and homesa2

[transitive] move somebody (from…) (to…) to make somebody change from one job, class, etc. to another synonym transfer

I'm being moved to the New York office.

Extra Examples

He's recently been moved from our Head Office.
We've decided to move her into the Accounts Department.
Several major industries have been moved from the north to the south of the country.

in board games

[intransitive, transitive] (in chess and other board games) to change the position of a piece

It's your turn to move.
move something She moved her queen.

leave/begin

[intransitive] (informal) to leave, begin something, etc. quickly

Let's move—it's time we went shopping.

change ideas/time

[intransitive, transitive] to change; to change something synonym shift

(+ adv./prep.) The government has not moved on this issue.
Things have moved on a lot since the days when I was young.
move something (+ adv./prep.) Let's move the meeting to Wednesday.

make progress

[intransitive] to make progress in the way or direction mentioned synonym progress

move on Time is moving on.
move ahead Share prices moved ahead today.
move forward After that, things moved forward at lightning speed
+ adv./prep. Things are not moving as fast as we hoped.
Things certainly move fast in the blogosphere.
Finally things are moving in the right direction.

take action

[intransitive] to take action; to do something synonym act

The police moved quickly to dispel the rumours.
The firm has moved to reassure customers that they will continue to provide good service.

Synonyms actionactionmeasure ▪ step ▪ act ▪ moveThese are all words for a thing that somebody does.action a thing that somebody does:

Can you explain your actions?

measure an official action that is done in order to achieve a particular aim:

Tougher measures against racism are needed.

step one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something:

This was a first step towards a united Europe.

act a thing that somebody does:

an act of kindness

action or act?These two words have the same meaning but are used in different patterns. An act is usually followed by of and/or used with an adjective. Action is not usually used with of but is often used with his, her, etc: a heroic act of bravery • a heroic action of bravery • his heroic actions/acts during the war. Action often combines with take but act does not: We shall take whatever acts are necessary. move (used especially in the media) an action that you do or need to do to achieve something:

They are waiting for the results of the opinion polls before deciding their next move.

Patterns

to take action/measures/steps
to make a step/move
a heroic/brave/daring action/step/act/move

cause strong feelings

[transitive] to cause somebody to have strong feelings, especially of sympathy or of being sad

move somebody We were deeply moved by her plight.
move somebody to something Grown men were moved to tears at the horrific scenes.

make somebody do something

[transitive] (formal) to cause somebody to do something synonym prompt

move somebody to do something She felt moved to address the crowd.
move somebody He works when the spirit moves him (= when he wants to).

Extra Examples

Like many adolescents he was moved to write poetry.
‘Certainly not!’ he was moved to protest.
As the delays got worse he was moved to make a mild complaint.

sell

[transitive, intransitive] move (something) to sell goods; to be sold

How quickly can we move this stock?
These copies are moving fast—they'll soon be sold out.

suggest formally

[transitive] (formal) to suggest something formally so that it can be discussed and decided synonym put forward

move something The Opposition moved an amendment to the Bill.
move that… I move that a vote be taken on this.

Topics Suggestions and advicec2

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French moveir, from Latin movere.

Idioms

get your ass in gear | move your ass (North American English)

(British English get your arse in gear, move your arse )

(offensive, slang) a rude way of telling somebody to hurry
- If you get your ass in gear, we can make it out of here tonight.

get moving

(informal) to begin, leave, etc. quickly
- It's late—we'd better get moving.

get something moving

(informal) to cause something to make progress
- The new director has really got things moving.

going/moving forward

(formal or business) in the future, starting from now
- We have a very solid financial position going forward.
- The strategy going forward is still undecided.
- Moving forward, we need to have a real plan.

keep up/move with the times

to change and develop your ideas, way of working, etc. so that you do what is modern and what is expected
- Many complained that the Royal Family had failed to move with the times.

move your ass | get your ass in gear (North American English)

(British English move your arse , get your arse in gear)

(offensive, slang) a rude way of telling somebody to hurry
- If you move your ass, we can make it out of here tonight.

move heaven and earth

to do everything you possibly can in order to achieve somethingTopics Successc2

move it

(especially in orders) (informal) to do something more quickly because there is not much time
- Move it! We’re going to be late!

move mountains

to make a great effort to do something
- The director moved mountains to remake this classic film.
Topics Successc2

See move in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee move in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: move

Other results

All matches

Phrasal verbs

Idioms

Nearby words

dizzy

adjective

From the Topic

Health problems

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day