move
1 of 2verb
ˈmüv 
moved; moving
intransitive verb
1
a(1)
: to go or pass to another place or in a certain direction with a continuous motion
moved into the shade
(2)
: to proceed toward a certain state or condition
moving up the executive ladder
(3)
: to become transferred during play
checkers move along diagonally adjacent squares
(4)
: to keep pace
moving with the times
b
: to start away from some point or place : depart
It was getting late and I thought it was time to be moving.
c
: to change one's residence or location
decided to move to the city
2
: to carry on one's life or activities in a specified environment
moves in the best circles
3
: to change position or posture : stir
ordered him not to move
4
: to take action : act
The time has come to make up your mind and move.
5
a
: to begin operating or functioning or working in a usual way
pushed a button and the machine began moving
b
: to show marked activity
after a lull things really began to move
c
: to move a piece (as in chess or checkers) during one's turn
6
: to make a formal request, application, or appeal
moved that the meeting adjourn
7
: to change hands by being sold or rented
goods that moved slowly
8
of the bowels : evacuate
transitive verb
1
a(1)
: to change the place or position of
moved the chair to a different part of the room
(2)
: to dislodge or displace from a fixed position : budge
The knife had sunk deeply into the wood and couldn't be moved.
b
: to transfer (something, such as a piece in chess) from one position to another
moved the bishop to take the knight
2
a(1)
: to cause to go or pass from one place to another with a continuous motion
move the flag slowly up and down
(2)
: to cause to advance
moved the troops closer to the enemy
b
: to cause to operate or function : actuate
this button moves the whole machine
c
: to put into activity or rouse up from inactivity
news that moved them from their torpor
3
: to cause to change position or posture
moved his lips but not a sound was heard
4
: to prompt or rouse to the doing of something : persuade
the report moved us to take action
5
a
: to stir the emotions, feelings, or passions of
deeply moved by such kindness
b
: to affect in such a way as to lead to an indicated show of emotion
the story moved her to tears
6
a
obsolete : beg
b
: to make a formal application to
7
: to propose formally in a deliberative assembly
moved the adjournment motion
8
: to cause (the bowels) to void
9
: to cause to change hands through sale or rent
The salesman moved three cars today.
move
2 of 2noun
1
a
: the act of moving a piece (as in chess)
b
: the turn of a player to move
2
a
: a step taken especially to gain an objective : maneuver
a move to end the dispute
retiring early was a smart move
b
: the action of moving from a motionless position
c
: one of a pattern of dance steps
d
: a change of residence or location
e
: an agile or deceptive action especially in sports
Synonyms
Verb
- budge
- dislocate
- displace
- disturb
- relocate
- remove
- reposition
- shift
- transfer
- transpose
Noun
- expedient
- means
- measure
- shift
- step
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He moved the chair closer to the table. It may be necessary to move the patient to intensive care. The breeze moved the branches of the trees. The branches moved gently in the breeze. She was unable to move her legs. She was so frightened that she could hardly move. I moved over so that she could sit next to me. We moved into the shade. The police were moving through the crowd telling people to move toward the exit. We could hear someone moving around upstairs. Noun He made a sudden move that scared away the squirrel. an athlete who has some good moves The policeman warned him not to make any false moves. He was afraid to make a move. No one is sure what his next move will be. He's preparing for his move to California. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Feb. 2023 Lawmakers are expected during this year’s legislative session to consider moving away from the unanimous jury requirement, a move backed by DeSantis. —Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023 Big job cuts can make headlines and move stock prices. —Theo Francis, WSJ, 21 Feb. 2023 The Federal Reserve kept moving assets from its balance sheet every month and repeatedly hiked interest rates by 75 basis points, although historically, the typical move has been only 25 basis points at a time. —Jacob Wolinsky, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023 After a husband and wife move from Boston to a small town in New Mexico, they're quickly targeted for a home invasion. —Madison Douglas, Seventeen, 17 Feb. 2023 But soon, the Fascists begin exterminating those in Kraków's ghetto — many of whom work for Schindler — and move the survivors to Płasów labor camp (overseen by the psychotic Amon Göth, played with an aristocratic sneer by Ralph Fiennes). —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2023 This reduced their ability to move from bright to dark experimental chambers. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 16 Feb. 2023 After all, astronauts don’t work very hard to move from place to place in space. —Elizabeth Howell, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023 Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2023 The latest move comes as demand for oil storage tanks has soared in the city-state, in a sign that a flood of Russian fuel is being blended and re-exported globally. —Philip Heijmans, Bloomberg.com, 10 Feb. 2023 The move comes just weeks after Klement's Sausage Co. and Milwaukee World Festival mutually agreed to end their sponsorship agreement. —Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2023 The move comes roughly two years after the city council unanimously voted in 2021 to fly the gay pride flag in front of city hall during gay pride month. —Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2023 The move to revamp the company and slash costs comes as Disney is under pressure to turn its business around. —Alex Veiga, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023 The move comes amid mounting concern over the threat posed by the ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza over the past few years, which has devastated flocks of wild and commercial birds around the continent. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2023 The move comes a little over a week after the home goods chain announced the closure of 87 stores, including all of its Harmon beauty stores and several buybuy Baby locations in thirty states. —Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2023 The move comes just six months after Lopez tied the knot with Ben Affleck, and just weeks after news broke about the Affleck’s multimillion-dollar deal with Dunkin’ Donuts, ET reported. —Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 8 Feb. 2023 See More
Verb
Richard McGowan, a gambling expert at Boston College, would place his bets on the TD Garden area over Fenway, because more crowds move through that area, in large part because of the arena’s location above North Station. —Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Feb. 2023 Lawmakers are expected during this year’s legislative session to consider moving away from the unanimous jury requirement, a move backed by DeSantis. —Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2023 Big job cuts can make headlines and move stock prices. —Theo Francis, WSJ, 21 Feb. 2023 The Federal Reserve kept moving assets from its balance sheet every month and repeatedly hiked interest rates by 75 basis points, although historically, the typical move has been only 25 basis points at a time. —Jacob Wolinsky, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2023 After a husband and wife move from Boston to a small town in New Mexico, they're quickly targeted for a home invasion. —Madison Douglas, Seventeen, 17 Feb. 2023 But soon, the Fascists begin exterminating those in Kraków's ghetto — many of whom work for Schindler — and move the survivors to Płasów labor camp (overseen by the psychotic Amon Göth, played with an aristocratic sneer by Ralph Fiennes). —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2023 This reduced their ability to move from bright to dark experimental chambers. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 16 Feb. 2023 After all, astronauts don’t work very hard to move from place to place in space. —Elizabeth Howell, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023 Noun
The move comes during intensifying criticism of the museum from hawkish proponents of the war in Ukraine and after authorities canceled the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art at the museum in November. —Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2023 The latest move comes as demand for oil storage tanks has soared in the city-state, in a sign that a flood of Russian fuel is being blended and re-exported globally. —Philip Heijmans, Bloomberg.com, 10 Feb. 2023 The move comes just weeks after Klement's Sausage Co. and Milwaukee World Festival mutually agreed to end their sponsorship agreement. —Bill Glauber, Journal Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2023 The move comes roughly two years after the city council unanimously voted in 2021 to fly the gay pride flag in front of city hall during gay pride month. —Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2023 The move to revamp the company and slash costs comes as Disney is under pressure to turn its business around. —Alex Veiga, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023 The move comes amid mounting concern over the threat posed by the ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza over the past few years, which has devastated flocks of wild and commercial birds around the continent. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2023 The move comes a little over a week after the home goods chain announced the closure of 87 stores, including all of its Harmon beauty stores and several buybuy Baby locations in thirty states. —Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2023 The move comes just six months after Lopez tied the knot with Ben Affleck, and just weeks after news broke about the Affleck’s multimillion-dollar deal with Dunkin’ Donuts, ET reported. —Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 8 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French mover, moveir, from Latin movēre; probably akin to Sanskrit mīvati he moves, pushes
Noun
derivative of move entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a(1)
Noun
1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing move
Kids Definition
move
1 of 2 verb ˈmüv
moved; moving
1
: to change the place or position of : shift
move the chair closer
2
: to go from one place to another
move into the shade
3
: to set in motion
moved their feet
4
a
: to cause a person to act or decide : persuade
the report moved me to change my mind
b
: to take action : act
5
: to affect the feelings of
the sad story moved me to tears
6
: to suggest according to the rules of a meeting
move to adjourn
7
: to change hands or cause to change hands through sale or rental
the store's stock must be moved
8
a
: to change residence
moved to Iowa
b
: to change place or position : stir
9
: to cause to function : operate
this button moves the whole machine
10
: to proceed in a certain direction
we're moving up in the world
11
: to carry on one's life in a particular environment
moves in the best circles
12
: to go away : depart
told them to move on
13
: to transfer a piece in a game (as chess) from one place to another
14
: to empty or cause to empty
move the bowels
move
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the act of moving a piece in a game
b
: the turn of a player to move
2
a
: a step taken to achieve a goal : maneuver
b
: the action of moving : movement
c
: a change of residence or location
Medical Definition
move
verb ˈmüv
moved; moving
intransitive verb
1
: to go or pass from one place to another
2
of the bowels : to eject fecal matter : evacuate
transitive verb
1
: to change the place or position of
2
: to cause (the bowels) to void
Legal Definition
move
verb moved; moving
intransitive verb
: to make a motion
moved to seize the property
transitive verb
: to request (a court) by means of a motion
moved the court to vacate the order
move 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to relocate
to change the place or position of I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- relocate
- transfer
- shift
- remove
- transport
- disturb
- carry
- displace
- haul
- reposition
- replace
- transpose
- convey
- budge
- drive
- dislocate
- transmit
- modify
- transplant
- alter
- cart
- lug
- revise
- supersede
- supplant
- tote
- rework
- remodel
- bear
- remake
- vary
- redo
- revamp
- refashion
- make over
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- set
- stabilize
- secure
- freeze
- fix
- anchor
- moor
- embed
- imbed
- root
- entrench
- lodge
- implant
- intrench
- engrain
- ingrain
2
as in to drive
to set or keep in motion the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery Synonyms & Similar Words
- drive
- activate
- propel
- work
- actuate
- impel
- stimulate
- raise
- trigger
- motivate
- provoke
- set off
- incite
- trip
- galvanize
- foment
- instigate
- ferment
- inspire
- abet
- rouse
- stir (up)
- inflame
- excite
- whip (up)
- arouse
- enflame
- fire (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- control
- check
- regulate
- restrain
- curb
- contain
- constrain
- inhibit
- rein (in)
- bridle
3
as in to shift
to change one's position don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait Synonyms & Similar Words
- shift
- stir
- squirm
- twitch
- wiggle
- budge
- locomote
- fidget
- jiggle
- wriggle
- toss
- fiddle
- writhe
- rouse
- squiggle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- freeze
- stay
- remain
- stabilize
- still
- hang around
- stick around
- tarry
4
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music Synonyms & Similar Words
- affect
- influence
- impact
- strike
- touch
- impress
- reach
- sway
- inspire
- get to
- interest
- bother
- involve
- attract
- penetrate
- transport
- disturb
- try
- entrance
- engage
- carry away
- tell (on)
- stir
- trouble
- dazzle
- concern
- worry
- plague
- upset
- harass
- fascinate
- pierce
- color
- bias
- perturb
- agitate
- ravish
- harry
- pester
- stress
- afflict
- enchant
- smite
- discomfort
- enrapture
- distress
- fluster
- captivate
- enthral
- disquiet
- enthrall
- wring
- discompose
- charm
- strain
- bewitch
- allure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bore
- weary
- tire
- pall
- jade
- underwhelm
5
as in to encourage
to rouse to strong feeling or action the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously Synonyms & Similar Words
- encourage
- provoke
- stimulate
- stir
- drive
- inspire
- motivate
- instigate
- spark
- incite
- induce
- arouse
- trigger
- excite
- motive
- activate
- animate
- pique
- ignite
- set off
- impassion
- galvanize
- fire (up)
- build a fire under
- get
- rev (up)
- energize
- raise
- quicken
- vitalize
- bother
- anger
- fan
- pump up
- inflame
- foment
- tease
- upset
- taunt
- ferment
- kindle
- abet
- annoy
- enflame
- enrage
- aggravate
- irritate
- jeer
- whip (up)
- vex
- madden
- exasperate
- gall
- key (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subdue
- calm
- placate
- appease
- soothe
- pacify
- mollify
- tranquilize
- tranquillize
6
as in to persuade
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests the report moved me to change my mind about the issue Synonyms & Similar Words
- persuade
- convince
- bring
- get
- induce
- urge
- convert
- gain
- satisfy
- argue
- attract
- coax
- sell
- lure
- bring around
- prompt
- entice
- win (over)
- seduce
- prevail (on or upon)
- sway
- influence
- tempt
- cajole
- talk (into)
- entreat
- exhort
- draw
- snow
- wheedle
- lead on
- discuss
- debate
- interest
- blandish
- brainwash
- incline
- converse
- dispute
- allure
- overpersuade
- beguile
- chew over
- moot
- fast-talk
- blarney
- hash (over)
- reason (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dissuade
- discourage
- deter
- unsell
7
as in to activate
to cause to function this one button moves the whole machine Synonyms & Similar Words
- activate
- trigger
- drive
- spark
- power
- start
- push
- generate
- set off
- fuel
- run
- actuate
- touch off
- ignite
- provoke
- fire
- charge
- turn on
- switch
- electrify
- launch
- release
- stimulate
- energize
- accelerate
- crank (up)
- trip
- kick over
- turn over
- reactivate
- discharge
- recharge
- stir up
- instigate
- incite
- vitalize
- quicken
- kick-start
- catalyze
- jump-start
- step up
- excite
- arouse
- speed (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cut
- kill
- stop
- stick
- check
- shut off
- halt
- deactivate
- stall
- slow
- brake
- arrest
- cut out
- jam
- cut off
- suppress
- decelerate
- turn off
- draw up
- stunt
- repress
8
as in to exit
to leave a place often for another the police officer told the loiterers to move along Synonyms & Similar Words
- exit
- go
- depart
- get
- flee
- evacuate
- escape
- start
- part
- fly
- quit
- withdraw
- pull out
- bail
- run along
- peel off
- get off
- walk out
- retire
- push off
- bail out
- push on
- beat it
- dig out
- emigrate
- clear out
- take a hike
- retreat
- cut out
- take off
- clear off
- book
- bug out
- go off
- begone
- vamoose
- take a walk
- bugger off
- skip
- take a powder
- set out
- bug off
- scarper
- strike out
- hit the road
- pull stakes
- pull up stakes
- shove (off)
- vacate
- remove
- abandon
- get out
- step (along)
- buzz (off)
- decamp
- abscond
- sally (forth)
- pack (up or off)
- run away
- pike (out or off)
- step out
- scram
- desert
- light out
- go out
- forsake
- scat
- adjourn
- mizzle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- come
- arrive
- stay
- remain
- settle
- turn up
- dwell
- close
- reach
- abide
- approach
- hit
- show up
- near
- land
- lodge
- tarry
move
2 of 2noun
1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result retiring early was a smart move Synonyms & Similar Words
- means
- step
- measure
- shift
- action
- attempt
- effort
- act
- try
- doing
- resource
- initiative
- expedient
- go
- operation
- procedure
- proceeding
- process
- dealing
- activity
- pass
- work
- project
- deed
- proposal
- course
- while
- success
- coup
- endeavor
- exploit
- feat
- thing
- stab
- enterprise
- event
- crack
- undertaking
- fling
- triumph
- business
- attainment
- shot
- achievement
- trouble
- accomplishment
- proposition
- whack
- labor
- pains
- trial
- resort
- exertion
- affair
- essay
- countermove
- counterstep
- makeshift
- stopgap
- countermeasure
2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position don't make a move Synonyms & Similar Words
- shifting
- relocation
- shift
- movement
- motion
- stirring
- migration
- stir
- flapping
- twitching
- mobility
- squirm
- dislocation
- squirming
- waving
- locomotion
- fidgeting
- flailing
- wriggling
- motility
- writhing
- fiddling
- motivity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stop
- immobility
- pause
- finish
- halt
- inertia
- termination
- motionlessness
- shutdown
- stillness
- expiration
- stoppage
- ending
- lapse
- cessation
- discontinuance
- inertness
- shutoff
- surcease
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of move are actuate, drive, and impel. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.
moved the furniture
The words actuate and move can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.
turbines actuated by waterpower
While in some cases nearly identical to move, drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.
a ship driven aground by hurricane winds
The synonyms impel and move are sometimes interchangeable, but impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.
a candidate impelled by ambition