I. move 1 S1 W1 /muːv/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ move , ↑ movement , ↑ removal , ↑ remover , ↑ mover ; adjective : ↑ movable , ↑ unmoved , ↑ moving ; verb : ↑ move , ↑ remove ; adverb : ↑ movingly ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: mouvoir , from Latin movere ]
1 . CHANGE PLACE [intransitive and transitive] to change from one place or position to another, or to make something do this:
Please keep the doors closed while the train is moving.
‘Come on,’ Sue said. No one moved.
Could you move your car, please? It’s blocking the road.
move quickly/slowly/steadily etc
The plane moved slowly along the runway, then stopped.
move away/out/to/towards etc
He moved closer to her.
Becca moved down the steps and into the yard.
move about/around
I could hear someone moving around upstairs.
The bar was so crowded you could hardly move.
At Christmas, you couldn’t move for toys in this house (=there were a lot of toys) .
Paul couldn’t move a muscle (=could not move at all) he was so scared.
2 . NEW HOUSE/OFFICE [intransitive and transitive] if a person or company moves, or if you move them, they go to live or work in a different place:
We’ve moved seven or eight times in the last five years.
move to/into/from
When are you moving to Memphis?
They’ve moved into bigger offices in London.
move somebody to/into/from etc something
He had to move his mother into a nursing home.
The company is moving its sales center downtown.
move house/home British English (=go to live in a different house)
My parents kept moving house because of my dad’s job.
3 . CHANGE OPINION ETC
a) [intransitive] to change from one opinion or way of thinking to another SYN shift :
Neither side is willing to move on the issue of territory.
move towards/away from
The two political parties have moved closer towards each other in recent months.
At this stage, children move further away from the influence of their parents, and depend more on their friends.
b) [transitive] to persuade someone to change their opinion:
She won’t be moved – it doesn’t matter what you say to her.
4 . PROGRESS [intransitive] to make progress in a particular way or at a particular rate:
Things moved quickly once the contract was signed.
The negotiations seem to be moving in the right direction.
get/keep things moving
The plan should boost employment and get things moving in the economy.
5 . TAKE ACTION [intransitive] to start taking action, especially in order to achieve something or deal with a problem
move on/against
The governor has yet to move on any of the recommendations in the report.
move fast/quickly/swiftly
You’ll have to move fast if you want to get a place on the course.
6 . CHANGE JOB/CLASS ETC [intransitive and transitive] to change to a different job, class etc, or to make someone change to a different job, class etc SYN transfer
move somebody to/into/from something
Several students were moved from the beginners’ class into the intermediate one.
He spent five years at KLP, before moving to IMed as a manager.
7 . EMOTION [transitive] to make someone feel strong emotions, especially of sadness or sympathy
be deeply/genuinely/profoundly moved
Russell was deeply moved by what he heard.
His speech moved the audience to tears.
⇨ ↑ moving (1)
8 . CAUSE SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING [transitive] to cause someone to do something
move somebody to do something
Seeing her there had moved him to think about the time they had together.
be/feel moved to do something
I have never before felt moved to write, but I feel I must protest.
9 . TIME/ORDER [transitive] to change the time or order of something
move something to/from something
Could we move the meeting to Thursday?
10 . CHANGE SUBJECT [intransitive] to start talking or writing about a different subject
move away from/off/to etc
We seem to be moving away from the main point of the discussion.
⇨ ↑ move on (4)
11 . get moving ( also move it ) spoken used to tell someone to hurry:
Come on, get moving or you’ll be late for school.
12 . it’s time I was moving/we ought to get moving etc spoken used to say that you need to leave or go somewhere:
I think it’s time we were moving.
I ought to get moving – I have to be up early tomorrow.
13 . GAMES [intransitive and transitive] to change the position of one of the objects used to play a game such as ↑ chess
14 . AT A MEETING [intransitive and transitive] formal to officially make a proposal at a meeting
move that
The chairman moves that the meeting be adjourned.
move to do something
I move to approve the minutes as read.
move an amendment British English (=suggest a change)
They want to move an amendment to the bill.
15 . GO FAST [intransitive] informal to travel very fast:
This car can really move!
16 . BE BOUGHT [intransitive] if things of a particular kind are moving, they are being bought, especially at a particular rate:
The highest-priced homes are still moving slowly.
17 . move with the times to change the way you think and behave, as society changes:
If the resorts want to keep attracting tourists, they need to move with the times.
18 . move in ... circles/society/world to spend a lot of time with a particular type of people and know them well:
She spent time in England, where she moved in high society.
⇨ move the goalposts at ↑ goalpost (2), ⇨ move in for the kill at ↑ kill 2 (2), ⇨ move heaven and earth at ↑ heaven (9), ⇨ when the spirit moves you at ↑ spirit 1 (15)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ move to go to a different place, or change the position of your body:
Sarah moved away from the window.
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Every time I move I get a pain in my left shoulder.
▪ sway to move slowly from one side to the other:
The branches swayed in the wind.
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Donny swayed drunkenly as he walked back to his car.
▪ rock to move repeatedly from one side to another, with small gentle movements:
He rocked backward and forward in his chair.
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The boat rocked from side to side with the waves.
▪ wobble to move unsteadily from side to side:
The bike wobbled a bit, but she soon got it under control.
▪ fidget to keep moving or playing with your fingers, hands, feet etc, because you are bored or nervous:
Diana fidgeted nervously with her pencil.
▪ squirm to make very small movements from side to side with your body, especially because you feel uncomfortable:
By the end of the hour, most of the children were squirming in their seats.
▪ wriggle to make small movements from side to side, especially in order to get into or out of something:
The dog wriggled under the fence and escaped into the street.
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She managed to wriggle into the dress, but it was much too tight.
▪ twitch if part of your body twitches, it makes small movements that you cannot control:
A muscle on Yang’s face twitched.
▪ stir written to make a movement – used especially when describing a situation in which no one moves, or someone wakes up:
In the village a dog barked but no one stirred
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The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes.
▪ budge to move – used when you are trying hard to make something move, often without success:
The piano wouldn’t budge.
■ to move to a different house, office etc
▪ move to move to a different house, office etc:
They’ve moved back to Santiago.
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My brother’s helping us move house.
▪ relocate to move to a different place – used about companies, organizations, and people who work for them:
NATO’s main headquarters relocated to Brussels.
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Klein is relocating to London to head up the investment banking team.
■ not moving
▪ still not moving – use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind:
There was no wind and the trees were completely still.
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Keep still while I tie your shoes.
▪ stationary not moving – use this about cars, trains, or objects:
The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.
▪ immobile not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness:
As the disease progressed, she became increasingly immobile.
▪ motionless completely still – used especially in literature:
Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.
▪ calm not moving because there is no wind – use this about air and water:
The lake was calm.
▪ be at a standstill if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving:
Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.
move along phrasal verb
1 . if a process or situation is moving along, or if you move it along, it continues and makes progress:
Construction of the bridge is moving along.
move something along
I hope we can move things along and get the negotiations going again.
2 . move somebody ↔along to officially order someone to leave a public place:
A queue formed by the gates, and a policeman tried to move people along.
move around phrasal verb
to change where you live very frequently, especially so that you live in many different parts of a country:
My dad was in the army, so we moved around a lot.
move away phrasal verb
to go to live in a different area:
My best friend moved away when I was ten.
move down (something) phrasal verb
to change to a lower group, rank, or level:
Interest rates have moved down.
A drop in wages has meant that these families have moved down the economic scale.
move in phrasal verb
1 . ( also move into something ) to start living in a new home OPP move out :
When are you moving in?
Mom and Dad had always planned to move into a smaller house when we grew up.
2 . to start living with someone in the same home
move in with
Steve’s going to move in with her.
3 . to start being involved in and controlling a situation that someone else controlled previously:
The big multinationals moved in and started pushing up prices.
move in on
Investors moved in on a group of car enthusiasts and took over the market.
4 . to go towards a place or group of people, in order to attack them or take control of them
move in on
Police moved in on the demonstrators in the square.
move off phrasal verb especially British English
if a vehicle or group of people moves off, it starts to leave:
Always check behind the car before you move off.
move on phrasal verb
1 . CHANGE JOB/CLASS to leave your present job, class, or activity and start doing another one:
I enjoyed my job, but it was time to move on.
move on to
When you finish, move on to the next exercise.
move on to higher/better things (=get a better job or social position – used humorously)
Jeremy’s leaving the company to move on to higher things.
2 . CHANGE/DEVELOP
a) to develop in your life, and change your relationships, interests, activities etc:
I’ve moved on since high school, and now I don’t have much in common with some of my old friends.
move on from
She has long since moved on from the roles of her youth.
b) to change, progress, improve, or become more modern as time passes:
By the time the software was ready, the market had moved on.
3 . move somebody on British English to order someone to leave a particular place – used especially about police:
The police arrived on the scene and began moving the protesters on.
4 . CHANGE SUBJECT to start talking about a new subject in a discussion, book etc:
Before we move on, does anyone have any questions?
5 . CONTINUE JOURNEY to leave the place where you have been staying and continue to another place:
After three days we decided it was time to move on.
move on to
The exhibition has now moved on to Edinburgh.
6 . TIME if time, the year etc moves on, the time passes:
As time moves on, I’d like the children to play more challenging music.
7 . time is moving on British English spoken used to say that you must leave soon or do something soon, because it is getting late:
Time’s moving on – we’d better get back to the car.
move out phrasal verb
1 . to leave the house where you are living now in order to go and live somewhere else OPP move in :
He moved out, and a year later they were divorced.
move out of
They moved out of London when he was little.
2 . if a group of soldiers moves out, they leave a place
3 . American English spoken to leave:
Are you ready to move out?
move over phrasal verb
1 . to change position so that there is more space for someone else:
Move over a little, so I can get in.
2 . to start using a different system, doing a different type of work etc
move over to
Most companies have moved over to computer-aided design systems.
3 . to change jobs, especially within the same organization or industry
move over from
The company’s new publisher just moved over from Villard Books.
4 . move over Madonna/Walt Disney/CD-ROMs etc used when saying that something new is becoming more popular than something older – used humorously:
Move over, Armani, there’s a new designer taking the fashion scene by storm.
move up phrasal verb
1 . to get a better job in a company, or change to a more advanced group, higher rank, or higher level:
To move up, you’ll need the right training.
Share prices moved up this month.
move up to
The kids learn fast, and can’t wait to move up to the junior team.
He was moving up the ladder (=getting higher and higher positions) , getting experience of command.
He’s moved up in the world (=got a better job or social position) in the last few years, and his new flat shows it.
2 . especially British English to change position in order to make more space for other people or things or be near someone else:
There’s room for one more if everyone moves up a bit.
II. move 2 S2 W1 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ move , ↑ movement , ↑ removal , ↑ remover , ↑ mover ; adjective : ↑ movable , ↑ unmoved , ↑ moving ; verb : ↑ move , ↑ remove ; adverb : ↑ movingly ]
1 . DECISION/ACTION something that you decide to do in order to achieve something:
She’s still thinking about her next move.
move to do something
the Board’s recent moves to cut interest rates
Most of the council members are reluctant to make such a drastic move.
The authorities have made no move to resolve the conflict.
a good/wise/smart etc move
She decided to learn as much about it as she could, which seemed like a wise move.
Taking the position was a good career move (=a decision that will improve the type of jobs you can do) .
there are moves afoot (to do something) British English (=there are plans, especially secret ones)
It seems there could be moves afoot to close the centre.
2 . MOVEMENT [usually singular] when someone moves for a short time in a particular direction:
Good gymnasts rehearse their moves mentally before a competition.
He made no move to come any nearer.
Martin made a move towards the door.
watch/follow sb’s every move
His green eyes followed Cissy’s every move.
One false move (=move in the wrong direction) and I’ll shoot.
3 . PROGRESS/CHANGE a change, especially one which improves a situation
move towards/from/against/to
the country’s move towards democracy
a move away from traditional industries such as coal mining
Much more research is being done, which is a move in the right direction.
4 . be on the move
a) to be travelling from one place to another:
The rebel army is on the move.
b) to be busy and active:
Roy is constantly on the move.
c) to be changing and developing a lot, especially in a way that improves things:
Museums are on the move, adding exhibits that entertain and educate.
5 . get a move on spoken used to tell someone to hurry
6 . make the first move to do something first, especially in order to end a quarrel or start a relationship:
Men say they like it when women make the first move.
7 . GAMES when you change the position of one of the objects in a game such as ↑ chess :
Several moves later, Ron took his king.
It’s your move, Janet (=it is your turn to move an object) .
8 . make a move British English informal to leave a place:
It’s getting late – we ought to make a move.
9 . GOING TO A NEW PLACE [usually singular] when you leave one house, office etc, and go to live or work in a different one:
The move to a larger office building is long overdue.
10 . put/make a move on somebody informal to try to start sexual activity or a sexual relationship with someone
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ make a move
We made the move mainly for financial reasons.
▪ make no move
The government made no move to hold the promised elections.
▪ welcome the move
Environmentalists welcomed the move to limit the length of fishing nets.
▪ oppose a move
Union members have opposed the move.
▪ support a move
The move was supported by the government.
▪ a move is aimed at doing something/is designed to do something
The move is aimed at strengthening its business in the region.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + move
▪ an important move
I cannot decide on such an important move on my own.
▪ a bold/daring move (=taking a lot of courage)
The writers made a bold move by kiling off the main character.
▪ a good/smart/wise move (=sensible)
I’m not sure it was a good move giving him the job.
▪ the right move
He hoped he had made the right move in telling his father.
▪ an unprecedented move (=never having happened before)
Barcelona began the unprecedented move of shipping in drinking water.
▪ sb’s next move (=the next thing someone does)
What should happen next? What’s our next move?
▪ a bad move
It was a bad move letting him come here in the first place.
▪ a false/wrong move (=made by mistake)
One wrong move and the business might never recover.
▪ the first move
She waited for Michael to make the first move.
▪ a career move (=a decision that will improve the type of job you can do)
It looked like a good career move, with the possibility of promotion later.
■ phrases
▪ there are moves afoot to do something British English (=there are plans, especially secret ones, to do something)
There are moves afoot to change things.
▪ a move in the right direction
The decision seemed to be a move in the right direction.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ make a move
She made a move towards the door.
▪ make no move
He made no move to stop her.
▪ watch/follow sb’s every move
His eyes followed Cissy’s every move.
■ adjectives
▪ a false/wrong move (=in the wrong direction)
One false move, and she’d fall over the edge.
▪ a sudden move
She made a sudden move towards me from the doorway.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ action noun [countable] something that someone does:
He is responsible for his own actions.
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They refused to give a reason for their actions.
▪ act noun [countable] a particular type of action:
violent acts
| act of violence/kindness/defiance etc :
I believe the killing was an act of desperation.
▪ activities noun [plural] things that people do, especially for enjoyment or to achieve an aim:
leisure activities
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political activities
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Surveys may not give a true picture of people’s activities.
▪ behaviour British English , behavior American English noun [uncountable] the things that someone does and the way they behave:
Do you think that advertisements really influence people’s behaviour?
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The man’s behaviour seemed rather odd.
▪ move noun [countable] something that you do in order to achieve something:
Her decision to sell the shares had been a smart move.
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It’s a bold move to start a business in the current economic climate.
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He needed time to figure out his next move.
▪ step noun [countable] one of a series of things that you do in order to deal with a problem or to succeed:
The first step is to make sure we have got funding for the project.
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We must take steps to make sure that this does not happen again.
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This is an important step towards peace.
▪ measure noun [countable] an official action that is intended to deal with a particular problem:
There are increased security measures at airports.
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The school was closed as a precautionary measure following a chemical leak.
▪ gesture noun [countable] something that you do to show how you feel about someone or something:
Do you think it would be a nice gesture to send her some flowers?
| gesture of goodwill/solidarity/defiance :
The company gave us £100 as a gesture of goodwill.
▪ deed noun [countable] especially literary an action, especially one that is very good or very bad:
evil deeds
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heroic deeds
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This is my good deed for the day.
▪ exploits noun [plural] formal exciting or brave actions:
daring exploits
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His exploits were legendary.
▪ feat noun [countable] something someone does that people admire because you need a lot of skill, courage, or strength to do it:
Completing a marathon is a remarkable feat for a six-year-old.
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The bridge is a great feat of engineering.