move
move
Pronunciation
move: /muːv/
[muː] - "moo" sound
[v] - "v" sound
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: move
Third-person singular present: moves
Present participle: moving
Past simple: moved
Past participle: moved
Noun:
Singular: move
Plural: moves
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To change one's physical position or the position of something.
Example: "Please move that chair closer to the table."
Synonyms: shift, relocate, transfer, budge, stir
Antonyms: stay, remain, stand still, halt, stop
To take action or initiate a process.
Example: "The committee decided to move forward with the new proposal."
Synonyms: act, proceed, advance, progress, initiate
Antonyms: pause, hesitate, delay, procrastinate, suspend
To cause a strong emotional reaction in someone.
Example: "The powerful speech moved the audience to tears."
Synonyms: touch, stir, affect, impress, inspire
Antonyms: bore, numb, disinterest, alienate, repel
To live in a different place.
Example: "They are planning to move to a new city next year."
Synonyms: relocate, resettle, emigrate, immigrate, transfer
Antonyms: stay, remain, settle, reside, dwell
Noun
An act of changing physical position.
Example: "He made a sudden move to avoid the obstacle."
Synonyms: gesture, action, maneuver, step, motion
Antonyms: stillness, inaction, rest, halt, standstill
A deliberate action taken to achieve an objective.
Example: "That was a smart move in the chess game."
Synonyms: tactic, strategy, maneuver, gambit, step
Antonyms: blunder, mistake, inaction, oversight, misstep
A change of residence.
Example: "The move to the countryside was a big adjustment."
Synonyms: relocation, transfer, resettlement, emigration, immigration
Antonyms: residency, settlement, dwelling, permanence, stagnation
Examples of Use
Books:
"With a final, decisive move, she pushed the last piece into place, completing the complex puzzle." (From The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi)
"He watched the city lights move like a slow-burning river below him, a silent testament to human industry." (From The Midnight Library by Matt Haig)
Newspapers:
"The central bank announced a move to raise interest rates, aiming to curb rising inflation." (From The Wall Street Journal)
"Protestors urged the government to move swiftly on environmental protection legislation." (From The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Scientists are tracking the movement of whales along the Pacific coast, studying their migratory patterns." (From National Geographic Online)
"Tech giant unveils bold move into virtual reality market with new headset." (From TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Character in Dune: Part Two, March 2024) "We must move quickly if we are to escape the storm."
Television Series: (Dialogue from Squid Game, Season 1, September 2021) "You need to make your next move carefully, or you're out."
Music: (Lyrics from "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera, June 2011) "You got the moves like Jagger."
Video Game: (On-screen prompt in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, May 2023) "Press 'A' to move item."
Social Media: (Twitter post by a sports analyst, January 2025) "That was an incredible move by the forward, securing the winning goal!"
General Public Discourse:
"I think it's time we move to a different neighborhood; this one is getting too noisy."
"Can you help me move this heavy box?"
"It's your move in this game of checkers."
"The company decided to move its headquarters to a more central location."
10 Quotes Using Move
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." (Albert Einstein)
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." (Alan Watts)
"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." (Walt Disney)
"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." (Conrad Hilton)
"If your world doesn't allow you to dream, move to one where you can." (Billy Idol)
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." (Ronald Reagan)
"You don't have to have it all figured out to move forward." (Roy T. Bennett)
"An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox." (Lao Tzu)
"The guerrilla must move amongst the people as a fish swims in the sea." (Mao Zedong)
"Let him that would move the world first move himself." (Socrates)
Etymology
The word "move" has a long history, tracing its roots all the way back to an ancient language!
In simple terms, "move" comes from the Latin word "movēre," which meant "to move, set in motion, remove, or disturb." This Latin word itself originated from an even older, reconstructed language called Proto-Indo-European, with a root sound like "m(y)ewh₁-" meaning "to move, drive."
When it entered the English language around the late 13th century (specifically around 1275), it came through Old French words like "mover" or "movoir."
The first known uses and meanings of "move" in English were mainly about physical change. It was used to describe:
Changing one's place or posture: So, if you "moved" in the late 13th century, you were stirring, shifting, or changing your position.
Going from one place to another: This meant traveling or journeying.
To excite or influence someone: Even early on, "move" also had a sense of stirring emotions or prompting someone to act, like "exciting to action" or "rousing to pity."
Over time, the word expanded to include many other meanings, like moving pieces in a game, changing residences, or making a formal proposal, but its core meaning of "changing position or causing change" has remained consistent since its earliest days.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Move
Get a move on: To hurry up; to begin to act quickly.
Make a move: To take action; to depart.
On the move: Constantly traveling; progressing or developing.
Move heaven and earth: To make a supreme effort to achieve something.
Move mountains: To achieve something seemingly impossible.
Move the needle: To make a noticeable difference or impact.
Move with the times: To adapt to changes and new developments.
Move the goalposts: To unfairly change the rules or criteria during a process.
Move up in the world: To become more successful or prosperous.
To move in on someone/something: To approach with the intention of taking control or possession.
Not move a muscle: To remain completely still.
A quick move: A rapid action or decision.
To make a shrewd move: To make a clever or advantageous decision.
Move over: To shift to make space for someone else.
Move out: To leave one's residence.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of move from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
