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move

A1
Very common

Pronunciation

UK

  • /mˈuːv/

US

  • /ˈmuv/

Meanings

Verb

  1. to change position or go from one place to another

  2. to take action or make progress

  3. to affect someone emotionally

Noun

  1. an act of changing place or position, especially a relocation

  2. a planned step or tactic

  3. a turn or play in a game

Beyond the definition

"Move" may look like a simple word, but it is used in many ways. Most often, it means going from one place to another or changing position. We move our bodies when we walk, run, or dance, and we move things when we carry or push them. It can also mean making progress, as when a project is moving forward. Sometimes it means affecting someone's feelings: "That movie really moved me." In formal speech, it can mean suggesting something for discussion: "I move that we adjourn the meeting." In games like chess, a piece moves across the board. At its core, the word is about change in place, action, or feeling.

Examples

  1. 1

    Polite request

    Could you move your bag so I can sit down?

  2. 2

    Train travel

    The train started moving slowly out of the station.

  3. 3

    Relocation

    We moved to Chicago when I was ten.

    • Patternmove to + place

      go to live in a new place

  4. 4

    Housing

    They're moving into a bigger apartment next month.

    • Patternmove into + place

      start living or working there

More examples
  1. 5

    Scheduling

    Can we move the meeting to Friday?

    • Patternmove + event/thing + to + time/place

      change its planned time or place

  2. 6

    Work policy

    The company is moving toward fully remote work.

    • Patternmove toward + goal/state

      gradually come closer to it

  3. 7

    Starting action

    Let's get moving, or we'll be late.

    • Phraseget moving

      start going or start doing something

  4. 8

    Emotional recovery

    After the breakup, she needed time to move on.

    • Phrasemove on

      stop focusing on the past and continue with life

  5. 9

    Emotional reaction

    His speech moved everyone in the room.

  6. 10

    Decision

    That was a smart move, but it was risky.

  7. 11

    Turn-taking

    It's your move.

    • Phraseyour move

      your turn to act or decide

  8. 12

    Dating

    He finally made a move and asked her out.

    • Phrasemake a move

      take action, often in a romantic situation

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • move forward
  • move from one place to another
  • move something aside
  • move into a new apartment

Word family

Explore

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • movenounverb

Forms

  • moving-ing formverbnoun
  • movedpast tenseverbnoun
  • movespluralnounverb