WordGarden.iomotion
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈəʊʃən/
US
- /ˈmoʊʃən/
Meanings
Noun
movement or change of position
a formal proposal put to a meeting or legislative body
a formal request or application made to a court
More meaningsFewer meanings
in physics, change in an object's position over time
Verb
to signal or direct with a gesture
Beyond the definition
Motion is mostly about movement. It is what happens when something changes place or keeps moving over time. Think of a hummingbird flapping its wings, a car rolling down the road, or leaves shaking in the wind.
You also see "motion" in a few common special uses. In physics, it is the study of how things move. In movies, "motion pictures" are images that seem to move. In law or meetings, a "motion" is a formal proposal asking for a decision or action. Whether it is a small wave of a hand or the steady movement of a train, the idea of movement stays at the center.
Motion, at its core, refers to movement or a change in position over time. It is a basic idea that helps us describe everything from planets traveling through space to a ball rolling across the floor.
In physics, motion is described with ideas like speed, direction, and acceleration to show how something moves. But the word is not limited to science. It also has several important uses in daily, formal, and creative language:
- Legal & Formal: In law or parliamentary procedure, a "motion" is a formal proposal made to a judge or a deliberative assembly requesting a specific action or ruling. ("The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss," or "I make a motion to adjourn the meeting.")
- Film & Photography: "Motion pictures" create the appearance of movement by showing still images in quick sequence.
- Everyday Language: We use "motion" to describe visible movement or activity. ("There was a lot of motion in the busy marketplace.")
- Gestures: It can also mean a movement used as a signal. ("She motioned for him to come closer.")
Think about a dancer: the beauty is not only in each pose, but in the smooth movement between them. Or think about a courtroom, where one formal request can change what happens next. Whether you are studying science, watching a film, or noticing the world around you, motion is the thread that turns stillness into action.
Examples
- 1
Sudden movement
The sudden motion of the bus made her drop her phone.
- 2
Cooking technique
Try to use a smooth motion when you stir the sauce.
- 3
Sensor detection
The doors opened as soon as the sensor detected motion.
- 4
Photography
Keep the camera still, or the picture will blur with every small motion.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Film playback
The film shows the bird's wings in slow motion.
- 6
Travel illness
He gets motion sickness on long car rides.
- 7
Starting a process
Once the plan was approved, the manager set everything in motion.
- Patternset something in motion
start a process
- 8
Lack of effort
He went through the motions at work, but his mind was somewhere else.
- Phrasego through the motions
do something without real interest or effort
- 9
Formal proposal
The council voted on a motion to close the road on Sundays.
- 10
Gesture request
She motioned for me to sit beside her.
- Patternmotion for + person + to do something
show what you want with a hand or head movement
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- in motion
- set in motion
- range of motion
- laws of motion
Word family
- motionless
- motional
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- motionnounverb
Forms
- motionspluralnounverb
- motionedpast tenseverbnoun
- motioning-ing formverbnoun