move
♦♦♦ move /m'uːv/ (moves moving moved)
1 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n, V prep/adv, V
When you move something or when it moves, its position changes and it does not remain still.
She moved the sheaf of papers into position...
A traffic warden asked him to move his car...
I could see the branches of the trees moving back and forth...
The train began to move.
2 [VERB] V, V prep/adv
When you move, you change your position or go to a different place.
She waited for him to get up, but he didn't move...
He moved around the room, putting his possessions together...
[N-COUNT] usu sing
Move is also a noun.
The doctor made a move towards the door...
Daniel's eyes followed her every move.
= movement
3 [VERB] V
If you move, you act or you begin to do something.
Industrialists must move fast to take advantage of new opportunities in Eastern Europe.
= act
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing
A move is an action that you take in order to achieve something.
The one point cut in interest rates was a wise move...
The thirty-five member nations agreed to the move...
5 [VERB] V, V to n, V n
If a person or company moves, they leave the building where they have been living or working, and they go to live or work in a different place, taking their possessions with them.
My family home is in Yorkshire and they don't want to move...
She had often considered moving to London...
They move house fairly frequently...
[N-COUNT]
Move is also a noun.
Modigliani announced his move to Montparnasse in 1909.
6 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n
If people in authority move someone, they make that person go from one place or job to another one.
His superiors moved him to another parish...
Ms Clark is still in position and there are no plans to move her...
= transfer
7 [VERB] V from/to n/-ing, V n
If you move from one job or interest to another, you change to it.
He moved from being an extramural tutor to being a lecturer in social history...
In the early days Christina moved jobs to get experience.
[N-COUNT]
Move is also a noun.
His move to the chairmanship means he will take a less active role in day-to-day management.
8 [VERB] V from/to n/-ing
If you move to a new topic in a conversation, you start talking about something different.
Let's move to another subject, Dan.
9 [VERB] V n to n, V n with adv, also V n
If you move an event or the date of an event, you change the time at which it happens.
The club has moved its meeting to Saturday, January 22nd...
The band have moved forward their Leeds date to October 27.
10 [VERB] V prep/adv
If you move towards a particular state, activity, or opinion, you start to be in that state, do that activity, or have that opinion.
Since the Convention was drawn up international opinion has begun to move against it.
[N-COUNT]
Move is also a noun.
His move to the left was not a sudden leap but a natural working out of ideas.
= shift
11 [VERB] usu cont, V, V n -ing
If a situation or process is moving, it is developing or progressing, rather than staying still.
Events are moving fast...
Someone has got to get things moving.
12 [VERB] usu passive, with neg, be V-ed
If you say that you will not be moved, you mean that you have come to a decision and nothing will change your mind.
Everyone thought I was mad to go back, but I wouldn't be moved.
= budge
13 [VERB] V n to-inf
If something moves you to do something, it influences you and causes you to do it.
It was punk that first moved him to join a band seriously...
14 [VERB] V n, V n to n
If something moves you, it has an effect on your emotions and causes you to feel sadness or sympathy for another person.
These stories surprised and moved me...
His prayer moved me to tears.
● moved [ADJ] v-link ADJ
Those who listened to him were deeply moved.
15 [VERB] V in n
If you say that someone moves in a particular society, circle, or world, you mean that they know people in a particular social class or group and spend most of their time with them.
She moves in high-society circles in London...
16 [VERB] V n, V that
At a meeting, if you move a motion, you formally suggest it so that everyone present can vote on it.
Labour quickly moved a closure motion to end the debate...
I move that the case be dismissed.
= put forward, propose
17 [N-COUNT]
A move is an act of putting a chess piece or other counter in a different position on a board when it is your turn to do so in a game.
With no idea of what to do for my next move, my hand hovered over the board.
18 [PHRASE]
If you say that one false move will cause a disaster, you mean that you or someone else must not make any mistakes because the situation is so difficult or dangerous.
He knew one false move would end in death.
19 [PHRASE]
If you tell someone to get a move on, you are telling them to hurry. (INFORMAL)
= hurry up
20 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to-inf
If you make a move, you prepare or begin to leave one place and go somewhere else.
He glanced at his wristwatch. `I suppose we'd better make a move.'
21 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to-inf
If you make a move, you take a course of action.
The week before the deal was supposed to close, fifteen Japanese banks made a move to pull out...
22 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you are on the move, you are going from one place to another.
Jack never wanted to stay in one place for very long, so they were always on the move.
23
to move the goalposts: see goalpost
to move a muscle: see musclefalse move
[PHRASE]
You use one false move to introduce the very bad or serious consequences which will result if someone makes a mistake, even a very small one.
One false move and I knew Sarah would be dead.move about
see move aroundmove along
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If someone, especially a police officer, tells you to move along, or if they move you along, they tell you to stop standing in a particular place and to go somewhere else.
Curious pedestrians were ordered to move along...
Our officers are moving them along and not allowing them to gather in large groups.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P
If a process moves along or if something moves it along, it progresses.
Research tends to move along at a slow but orderly pace...
Delay is part of the normal process, but I hope we can move things along.move around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If you move around or move about, you keep changing your job or keep changing the place where you live. (in BRIT, also use move about)
I was born in Fort Worth but we moved around a lot and I was reared in east Texas...
He moved around the country working in orange groves.move away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you move away, you go and live in a different town or area of a country.
He moved away and broke off relations with the family.move down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, also V P n
If someone or something moves down, they go to a lower level, grade, or class.
Gold prices moved down.move in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P with n, V P together
When you move in somewhere, you begin to live there as your home.
Her house was in perfect order when she moved in...
Her husband had moved in with a younger woman...
We'd been seeing each other for a year when he suggested we should move in together.
≠ move out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P on n
If police, soldiers, or attackers move in, they go towards a place or person in order to deal with or attack them.
Police moved in to disperse the crowd...
Forces were moving in on the town of Knin.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n, also V P
If someone moves in on an area of activity which was previously only done by a particular group of people, they start becoming involved with it for the first time.
These black models are moving in on what was previously white territory: the lucrative cosmetic contracts.move into
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you move into a new house, you start living there.
I want you to move into my apartment. We've a spare room.move off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
When you move off, you start moving away from a place.
Gil waved his hand and the car moved off.
= set offmove on
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P prep/adv, V P
When you move on somewhere, you leave the place where you have been staying or waiting and go there.
Mr Brooke moved on from Paris to Belgrade...
What's wrong with his wanting to sell his land and move on?
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If someone such as a policeman moves you on, they order you to stop standing in a particular place and to go somewhere else.
Eventually the police were called to move them on.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P
If you move on, you finish or stop one activity and start doing something different.
She ran this shop for ten years before deciding to move on to fresh challenges...
Now, can we move on and discuss the vital business of the day.move out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P of n
If you move out, you stop living in a particular house or place and go to live somewhere else.
The harassment had become too much to tolerate and he decided to move out...
They had a huge row and Sally moved out of the house.
≠ move inmove over
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, also V P
If you move over to a new system or way of doing something, you change to it.
The government is having to introduce some difficult changes, particularly in moving over to a market economy.
= change
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If someone moves over, they leave their job or position in order to let someone else have it.
They said Mr Jenkins should make balanced programmes about the Black community or move over and let someone else who can.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you move over, you change your position in order to make room for someone else.
Move over and let me drive.move up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you move up, you change your position, especially in order to be nearer someone or to make room for someone else.
Move up, John, and let the lady sit down.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If someone or something moves up, they go to a higher level, grade, or class.
Share prices moved up...
Children learn in mixed ability classes and move up a class each year.
= go up
1 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n, V prep/adv, V
When you move something or when it moves, its position changes and it does not remain still.
She moved the sheaf of papers into position...
A traffic warden asked him to move his car...
I could see the branches of the trees moving back and forth...
The train began to move.
2 [VERB] V, V prep/adv
When you move, you change your position or go to a different place.
She waited for him to get up, but he didn't move...
He moved around the room, putting his possessions together...
[N-COUNT] usu sing
Move is also a noun.
The doctor made a move towards the door...
Daniel's eyes followed her every move.
= movement
3 [VERB] V
If you move, you act or you begin to do something.
Industrialists must move fast to take advantage of new opportunities in Eastern Europe.
= act
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing
A move is an action that you take in order to achieve something.
The one point cut in interest rates was a wise move...
The thirty-five member nations agreed to the move...
5 [VERB] V, V to n, V n
If a person or company moves, they leave the building where they have been living or working, and they go to live or work in a different place, taking their possessions with them.
My family home is in Yorkshire and they don't want to move...
She had often considered moving to London...
They move house fairly frequently...
[N-COUNT]
Move is also a noun.
Modigliani announced his move to Montparnasse in 1909.
6 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n
If people in authority move someone, they make that person go from one place or job to another one.
His superiors moved him to another parish...
Ms Clark is still in position and there are no plans to move her...
= transfer
7 [VERB] V from/to n/-ing, V n
If you move from one job or interest to another, you change to it.
He moved from being an extramural tutor to being a lecturer in social history...
In the early days Christina moved jobs to get experience.
[N-COUNT]
Move is also a noun.
His move to the chairmanship means he will take a less active role in day-to-day management.
8 [VERB] V from/to n/-ing
If you move to a new topic in a conversation, you start talking about something different.
Let's move to another subject, Dan.
9 [VERB] V n to n, V n with adv, also V n
If you move an event or the date of an event, you change the time at which it happens.
The club has moved its meeting to Saturday, January 22nd...
The band have moved forward their Leeds date to October 27.
10 [VERB] V prep/adv
If you move towards a particular state, activity, or opinion, you start to be in that state, do that activity, or have that opinion.
Since the Convention was drawn up international opinion has begun to move against it.
[N-COUNT]
Move is also a noun.
His move to the left was not a sudden leap but a natural working out of ideas.
= shift
11 [VERB] usu cont, V, V n -ing
If a situation or process is moving, it is developing or progressing, rather than staying still.
Events are moving fast...
Someone has got to get things moving.
12 [VERB] usu passive, with neg, be V-ed
If you say that you will not be moved, you mean that you have come to a decision and nothing will change your mind.
Everyone thought I was mad to go back, but I wouldn't be moved.
= budge
13 [VERB] V n to-inf
If something moves you to do something, it influences you and causes you to do it.
It was punk that first moved him to join a band seriously...
14 [VERB] V n, V n to n
If something moves you, it has an effect on your emotions and causes you to feel sadness or sympathy for another person.
These stories surprised and moved me...
His prayer moved me to tears.
● moved [ADJ] v-link ADJ
Those who listened to him were deeply moved.
15 [VERB] V in n
If you say that someone moves in a particular society, circle, or world, you mean that they know people in a particular social class or group and spend most of their time with them.
She moves in high-society circles in London...
16 [VERB] V n, V that
At a meeting, if you move a motion, you formally suggest it so that everyone present can vote on it.
Labour quickly moved a closure motion to end the debate...
I move that the case be dismissed.
= put forward, propose
17 [N-COUNT]
A move is an act of putting a chess piece or other counter in a different position on a board when it is your turn to do so in a game.
With no idea of what to do for my next move, my hand hovered over the board.
18 [PHRASE]
If you say that one false move will cause a disaster, you mean that you or someone else must not make any mistakes because the situation is so difficult or dangerous.
He knew one false move would end in death.
19 [PHRASE]
If you tell someone to get a move on, you are telling them to hurry. (INFORMAL)
= hurry up
20 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to-inf
If you make a move, you prepare or begin to leave one place and go somewhere else.
He glanced at his wristwatch. `I suppose we'd better make a move.'
21 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to-inf
If you make a move, you take a course of action.
The week before the deal was supposed to close, fifteen Japanese banks made a move to pull out...
22 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v, v-link PHR
If you are on the move, you are going from one place to another.
Jack never wanted to stay in one place for very long, so they were always on the move.
23
to move the goalposts: see goalpost
to move a muscle: see musclefalse move
[PHRASE]
You use one false move to introduce the very bad or serious consequences which will result if someone makes a mistake, even a very small one.
One false move and I knew Sarah would be dead.move about
see move aroundmove along
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If someone, especially a police officer, tells you to move along, or if they move you along, they tell you to stop standing in a particular place and to go somewhere else.
Curious pedestrians were ordered to move along...
Our officers are moving them along and not allowing them to gather in large groups.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P
If a process moves along or if something moves it along, it progresses.
Research tends to move along at a slow but orderly pace...
Delay is part of the normal process, but I hope we can move things along.move around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If you move around or move about, you keep changing your job or keep changing the place where you live. (in BRIT, also use move about)
I was born in Fort Worth but we moved around a lot and I was reared in east Texas...
He moved around the country working in orange groves.move away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you move away, you go and live in a different town or area of a country.
He moved away and broke off relations with the family.move down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, also V P n
If someone or something moves down, they go to a lower level, grade, or class.
Gold prices moved down.move in
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P with n, V P together
When you move in somewhere, you begin to live there as your home.
Her house was in perfect order when she moved in...
Her husband had moved in with a younger woman...
We'd been seeing each other for a year when he suggested we should move in together.
≠ move out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P on n
If police, soldiers, or attackers move in, they go towards a place or person in order to deal with or attack them.
Police moved in to disperse the crowd...
Forces were moving in on the town of Knin.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P on n, also V P
If someone moves in on an area of activity which was previously only done by a particular group of people, they start becoming involved with it for the first time.
These black models are moving in on what was previously white territory: the lucrative cosmetic contracts.move into
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you move into a new house, you start living there.
I want you to move into my apartment. We've a spare room.move off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
When you move off, you start moving away from a place.
Gil waved his hand and the car moved off.
= set offmove on
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P prep/adv, V P
When you move on somewhere, you leave the place where you have been staying or waiting and go there.
Mr Brooke moved on from Paris to Belgrade...
What's wrong with his wanting to sell his land and move on?
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If someone such as a policeman moves you on, they order you to stop standing in a particular place and to go somewhere else.
Eventually the police were called to move them on.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, V P
If you move on, you finish or stop one activity and start doing something different.
She ran this shop for ten years before deciding to move on to fresh challenges...
Now, can we move on and discuss the vital business of the day.move out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P of n
If you move out, you stop living in a particular house or place and go to live somewhere else.
The harassment had become too much to tolerate and he decided to move out...
They had a huge row and Sally moved out of the house.
≠ move inmove over
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P to n, also V P
If you move over to a new system or way of doing something, you change to it.
The government is having to introduce some difficult changes, particularly in moving over to a market economy.
= change
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If someone moves over, they leave their job or position in order to let someone else have it.
They said Mr Jenkins should make balanced programmes about the Black community or move over and let someone else who can.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you move over, you change your position in order to make room for someone else.
Move over and let me drive.move up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you move up, you change your position, especially in order to be nearer someone or to make room for someone else.
Move up, John, and let the lady sit down.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If someone or something moves up, they go to a higher level, grade, or class.
Share prices moved up...
Children learn in mixed ability classes and move up a class each year.
= go up