WordGarden.iomovement
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈuːvmənt/
US
- /ˈmuvmənt/
Meanings
Noun
movement or change of position
an organized campaign or group seeking social or political change
a style or school in art, literature, or culture
More meaningsFewer meanings
change or progress in a situation, discussion, or amount
one of the main sections of a long musical work
an act of passing stool from the body
Beyond the definition
Movement is not just about walking from one place to another. It can describe any change in position, direction, or state. Think of a caterpillar inching across a leaf. That is movement. But it also works on a much larger scale: the movement of planets around the sun or a growing movement for social justice.
You might notice a quick movement in a dance performance or the slow movement of glaciers over many years. When people join together to support a cause, they can form a political or social movement. The word can point to a small action, like the movement of a hand, or a huge natural process, like the movement of the Earth's plates.
The word "movement" covers many kinds of change, action, and progress. At its most basic, it means the act of moving from one place to another or changing position, as in "the graceful movement of the dancer captivated the audience." It can refer to the motion of a person, an animal, an object, or something in nature, such as the movement of water, air, traffic, or planets.
But movement reaches beyond physical motion. It can also describe change or progress in something less concrete, such as prices, events, or public opinion. In everyday life, it may mean a gesture, a body action, or activity in a place: a movement of the eyes, movement in the crowd, or movement in the market.
The word is also widely used for organized efforts by groups of people. A social or political movement is a shared campaign for change, like the civil rights movement, the environmental movement, or a student movement. Here, the idea is not physical motion but people moving together in purpose.
It also has special uses. In music, a movement is one main section of a longer work, such as a symphony or concerto. In health, it can sometimes mean the passing of waste from the body, as in "a bowel movement." In science and mechanics, it may describe motion in systems, machines, or living things. Whether it is a hand lifting, a crowd pushing forward, a cause gaining support, or a new section in a piece of music, movement is about motion, change, or people and things not staying still.
Examples
- 1
Home sounds
I heard movement upstairs and realized someone was awake.
- 2
Exercise
Try to keep your movements slow and relaxed during the exercise.
- 3
Medical symptom
The doctor said the pain gets worse with movement.
- 4
City travel
Heavy snow made movement around the city difficult.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Trade policy
The new agreement allows free movement of goods between the two countries.
- Patternfree movement of + people/things
ability to move between places with few limits
- 6
Project progress
There has been little movement on the project since March.
- Patternmovement on + task/project
progress with it
- 7
Energy transition
We are seeing a gradual movement toward cleaner energy.
- Patternmovement toward + goal/trend
a change in that direction
- 8
Social activism
She joined the civil rights movement as a teenager.
- 9
Financial change
A small movement in interest rates can affect mortgage payments.
- Patternmovement in + level/amount
a change in it
- 10
Classical music
The slow second movement is my favorite part of the symphony.
- Domain
In music, a movement is one main section of a longer piece.
- 11
Medical phrase
The nurse asked when he last had a bowel movement.
- Phrasebowel movement
when waste leaves the body
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- movementnoun
Forms
- movementspluralnoun