move Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of deciding to do something
    • he didn't make a move to help
    • his first move was to hire a lawyer
  2. noun the act of changing your residence or place of business
    relocation.
    • they say that three moves equal one fire
  3. noun a change of position that does not entail a change of location
    motion; motility; movement.
    • the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
    • movement is a sign of life
    • an impatient move of his hand
    • gastrointestinal motility
  4. noun the act of changing location from one place to another
    motion; movement.
    • police controlled the motion of the crowd
    • the movement of people from the farms to the cities
    • his move put him directly in my path
  5. noun (game) a player's turn to take some action permitted by the rules of the game
  6. verb change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
    go; travel; locomote.
    • How fast does your new car go?
    • We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus
    • The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect
    • The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell
    • news travelled fast
  7. verb cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
    displace.
    • Move those boxes into the corner, please
    • I'm moving my money to another bank
    • The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant
  8. verb move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
    • He moved his hand slightly to the right
  9. verb change residence, affiliation, or place of employment
    • We moved from Idaho to Nebraska
    • The basketball player moved from one team to another
  10. verb follow a procedure or take a course
    go; proceed.
    • We should go farther in this matter
    • She went through a lot of trouble
    • go about the world in a certain manner
    • Messages must go through diplomatic channels
  11. verb be in a state of action
    be active.
    • she is always moving
  12. verb go or proceed from one point to another
    • the debate moved from family values to the economy
  13. verb perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
    act.
    • think before you act
    • We must move quickly
    • The governor should act on the new energy bill
    • The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel
  14. verb have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
    strike; affect; impress.
    • This child impressed me as unusually mature
    • This behavior struck me as odd
  15. verb give an incentive for action
    motivate; prompt; propel; incite; actuate.
    • This moved me to sacrifice my career
  16. verb arouse sympathy or compassion in
    • Her fate moved us all
  17. verb dispose of by selling
    • The chairman of the company told the salesmen to move the computers
  18. verb progress by being changed
    go; run.
    • The speech has to go through several more drafts
    • run through your presentation before the meeting
  19. verb live one's life in a specified environment
    • she moves in certain circles only
  20. verb have a turn; make one's move in a game
    go.
    • Can I go now?
  21. verb propose formally; in a debate or parliamentary meeting
    make a motion.

WordNet

Move transitive verb
Etymology
OE. moven, OF. moveir, F. mouvoir, L. movere; cf. Gr. to change, exchange, go in or out, quit, Skr. miv, p.p. m&umac;ta, to move, push. Cf. Emotion, Mew to molt, Mob, Mutable, Mutiny.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Moved ; present participle & verbal noun Moving
Definitions
  1. To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another; to impel; to stir; as, the wind moves a vessel; the horse moves a carriage.
  2. (Chess, Checkers, etc.) To transfer (a piece or man) from one space or position to another, according to the rules of the game; as, to move a king. fld=board games
  3. To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence.
    Minds desirous of revenge were not moved with gold. Knolles.
    No female arts his mind could move. Dryden.
  4. To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion; to touch pathetically; to excite, as an emotion. Shak.
    When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them. Matt. ix. 36.
    [The use of images] in orations and poetry is to move pity or terror. Felton.
  5. To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit, as a resolution to be adopted; as, to move to adjourn.
    Let me but move one question to your daughter. Shak.
    They are to be blamed alike who move and who decline war upon particular respects. Hayward.
  6. To apply to, as for aid. Obs. Shak. Syn. -- To stir; agitate; trouble; affect; persuade; influence; actuate; impel; rouse; prompt; instigate; incite; induce; incline; propose; offer.
Move intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To change place or posture; to stir; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another; as, a ship moves rapidly.
    The foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. Ps. xviii. 7.
    On the green bank I sat and listened long, ... Nor till her lay was ended could I move. Dryden.
  2. To act; to take action; to stir; to begin to act; as, to move in a matter.
  3. To change residence; to remove, as from one house, town, or state, to another.
  4. (Chess, Checkers, etc.) To change the place of a piece in accordance with the rules of the game.
Move noun
Definitions
  1. The act of moving; a movement.
  2. (Chess, Checkers, etc.) The act of moving one of the pieces, from one position to another, in the progress of the game.
  3. An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose.

Webster 1913