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Definition of move verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    move

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//muv//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they move
     
    he / she / it moves
     
    past simple moved
     
    -ing form moving
     
     
    jump to other results
    change position
  1. 1  [intransitive, transitive] to change position or make someone or 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. + adv./prep. He could hear someone moving around in the room above. Phil moved toward the window. You can hardly move in this club on Saturdays (= because it is so crowded). You can't move for books in her room (= her room is full of books). move something I can't move my fingers. move something + adv./prep. We moved our chairs a little nearer.
    2. change house/job
  2. 2  [intransitive] 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 Indiana. move away She's been all on her own since her daughter moved away.
  3. 3  [transitive] move somebody (from…) (to…) to make someone change from one job, class, etc. to another synonym transfer I'm being moved to the New York office.
    4. make progress
  4. 4  [intransitive] move (on/ahead) to make progress in the way or direction mentioned synonym progress Time is moving on. Share prices moved ahead today. Things are not moving as fast as we hoped.
    5. go fast
  5. 5  [intransitive] (informal) to go very fast Japan’s high-speed trains can really move!
    6. cause strong feelings
  6. 6  [transitive] to cause someone to have strong feelings, especially of sympathy or sadness move somebody We were deeply moved by her plight. move somebody to something Grown men were moved to tears at the horrific scenes. see moving
    7. make someone do something
  7. 7  [transitive] (formal) to cause someone 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).
    8. take action
  8. 8  [intransitive] to take action; to do something synonym act The police moved quickly to dispel the rumors. Thesaurusaction
    • measure
    • step
    • act
    • move
    These are all words for a thing that someone does.
    • action a thing that someone does:Her quick action saved the child's life.
    • measure an official action that is done in order to achieve a particular aim:The government introduced tougher security measures last summer.
    • step one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something:This work is a first step towards our eventual goal.
    • act a thing that someone 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 her heroic actions/acts during the war.Action often combines with take but act does not:We will take whatever action is necessary. We will take whatever acts are necessary.
    • move (used especially in journalism) 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 move
    • a heroic/brave/daring action/step/act/move
    9. change ideas/time
  9. 9  [intransitive, transitive] to change; to change something synonym shift (+ adv./prep.) The government has not moved on this issue. move something (+ adv./prep.) Let's move the meeting to Wednesday.
    10. in board games
  10. 10  [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.
    11. sell something
  11. 11  [transitive] move something (informal) to sell something I need to move ten boxes of perfume by next week.
    12. suggest formally
  12. 12  [transitive] (formal) to suggest something formally so that it can be discussed and decided synonym put forward move something The Senator from Delaware moved an amendment to the Bill. move that… I move that a vote be taken on this.
    13. Idioms
    get moving (informal)
     
    jump to other results
    to begin, leave, etc. quickly It's late—we'd better get moving.
    get something moving (informal)
     
    jump to other results
    to cause something to make progress The new director has really got things moving.
    going/moving forward (formal or business)
     
    jump to other results
    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.
    kick/move/swing into high gear
     
    jump to other results
    to become more intense The campaign season for this year’s elections doesn’t really kick into high gear until June.
    move heaven and earth
     
    jump to other results
    to do everything you possibly can in order to achieve something
    move with the times
     
    jump to other results
    to change the way you think and behave according to changes in society Many complained that the Heritage Association had failed to move with the times.     Phrasal Verbsmove alongmove inmove in withmove offmove onmove outmove over
See move in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: move

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