in motion

in motion — idiom

1. When an object, vehicle, or process is in motion, it is moving from one place to

1.慣用語B1
釋義

When an object, vehicle, or process is in motion, it is moving from one place to another, or a plan or activity has started and is actively happening.

例句

The train was already in motion when Chiara realised she had left her bag on the platform.

physical movement: train + be + in motion

Once the government's new plan is in motion, it will take at least a year to see results.

figurative use: plan + be + in motion

同義詞
  • moving

    more direct and less formal; used especially for physical objects

  • underway

    used for processes, projects, or events that have started

  • in progress

    common for ongoing activities; slightly more formal

反義詞
  • at rest

    physical objects that are not moving

  • still

    physical objects that are not moving; more common in everyday speech

  • stopped

    general term for anything that has ceased movement or operation

文法句型

be + in motion

set/put + something + in motion

用法筆記

Follows the verb 'be' (is in motion, was in motion) to describe a state, or 'set/put' (set in motion, put in motion) to describe starting something. The opposite ideas are 'at rest' or 'still' for physical movement, and 'stopped' or 'on hold' for processes.

常見錯誤

❌The car is in the motion.
✅The car is in motion.
💡'in motion' is a fixed phrase; do not add 'the' between 'in' and 'motion'.
❌They put the plan on motion.
✅They put the plan in motion.
💡The correct preposition is 'in', not 'on'.