move
/muːv/ (bre, ipa) · /muːv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmüv/ (ame, mw)
move — verb
- movepresent simple I / you / we / they
- moveshe / she / it
- movedpast simple
- moving-ing form
1. to go from one place or position to another, or to put something or someone in a
to go from one place or position to another, or to put something or someone in a different place
Gabriela moved her chair closer to the window so she could see the garden.
move + object + location (change position of something)
The cat stayed still and would not move when Quan turned on the vacuum cleaner.
Aylin asked the driver to move the boxes to the back of the truck.
The branches of the old tree moved gently in the wind all afternoon.
Henry asked his neighbour to move the car because it was blocking the driveway.
文法句型
move + object + to/into/toward [place]
move + to/into/toward [place]
move + adverb (closer, away, aside, slowly)
用法筆記
This is the most basic physical sense of 'move'. It applies to both people shifting location and objects being relocated. The intransitive form (subject moves by itself) is as common as the transitive form.
常見錯誤
2. to take your turn during a game played on a board by picking up one of your piec
to take your turn during a game played on a board by picking up one of your pieces and setting it down in a different spot
Sumin moved her knight forward three spaces and captured her opponent's pawn.
move + game piece + distance (board game context)
Eitan studied the board for five minutes before deciding which piece to move.
In chess you cannot move your king where an opponent could take it.
Reema grinned as she moved her last marble into the home circle and won.
文法句型
move + [game piece] + [direction/distance]
move + in + [game]
it is [someone's] turn to move
用法筆記
Frequently intransitive: 'It is your turn to move.' The piece itself is the object when transitive. Common in games like chess, checkers, backgammon, and marbles.
常見錯誤
3. to go and settle in a different home, city, or country for living or working pur
to go and settle in a different home, city, or country for living or working purposes
Zola's company asked her to move to their office in Singapore for two years.
move + to + [place] (change residence or workplace)
Beatrix decided to move to a smaller town after twenty years in the busy capital.
The hospital offered the doctor more money to move to the rural mountain clinic.
Élise and her partner plan to move abroad next spring to teach English in Japan.
Soraya moved from Peru to Canada after getting a job at a university in Toronto.
- stay
to continue living in the same place
文法句型
move + to + [place]
move + from + [place]
move + abroad/overseas/away
用法筆記
Typically intransitive. Use 'move to [destination]' for the new place, 'move from [origin]' for the old one. This sense refers to the decision or fact of relocating; the physical act of packing and transporting belongings is covered by sense 4.
常見錯誤
4. to leave your current home and take your furniture and other belongings to a new
to leave your current home and take your furniture and other belongings to a new home
Mauricio hired a truck and two helpers to move his furniture to the new apartment.
move + belongings + to [new home] (physical relocation process)
The Chen family is moving next Saturday and has already packed most of their boxes.
The Lin family must move everything out of their old house before the month ends.
Moving house is always stressful because there are so many things to organise and pack.
- relocate
more formal, covers both the decision and the physical process
- stay put
to remain in the same home, informal
文法句型
move + [belongings]
move + in/into + [home]
move + out of + [home]
be moving (next week, on Saturday)
用法筆記
This sense focuses on the physical process of emptying one home and filling another. Contrast with sense 3, which refers to the broader decision or fact of relocating. Common in phrasal forms like 'move in' (arrive at new home) and 'move out' (leave old home).
常見錯誤
5. to develop, change, or advance toward a different or improved state or condition
to develop, change, or advance toward a different or improved state or condition — for example, a project moving ahead, a career moving forward, or a discussion moving to a new topic
The construction project is moving along faster than the builders had expected.
move along (progress at a steady rate)
Discussions between the two companies moved in a positive direction after weeks of silence.
Gabriela's research has moved from a simple idea into a full experiment with real data.
Quan felt his career was not moving forward and started looking for a new job.
The conversation at dinner moved from politics to sports when Ignacio changed the subject.
文法句型
move + adverb (forward, along, ahead)
move + from/to + [state]
move + in + [direction]
用法筆記
Often used with directional or manner adverbs (forward, along, ahead, quickly, slowly). The subject is usually an abstract noun: project, career, discussion, situation, plans. Intransitive is far more common than transitive.
常見錯誤
6. to make someone feel they should do something, often as a result of strong emoti
to make someone feel they should do something, often as a result of strong emotion or a compelling reason
The letter from the bank moved Soraya to finally start looking for a cheaper apartment.
move + [someone] + to-infinitive (cause to act)
Seeing the storm damage moved the community to organise a fundraising event for the victims.
What finally moved the government to change the law was the constant pressure from citizens.
The teacher's words of encouragement moved Wei to study harder for the final examination.
文法句型
move + [someone] + to-infinitive
move + [someone] + to + [action noun]
be moved + by + [something]
用法筆記
The object is always a person or group, followed by a to-infinitive clause. This sense is stronger than 'persuade' — it implies an emotional or compelling reason. The passive form 'be moved by [something]' is common: 'She was moved by his speech.' Distinguish from sense 8 (EMOTIONAL EFFECT) which targets feelings rather than actions.
常見錯誤
7. to change your opinion about something, or to change the kind of job you do or t
to change your opinion about something, or to change the kind of job you do or the way you live
Talia has moved away from her earlier political beliefs and now supports different policies.
move away from + [belief/opinion]
After working in sales for eight years, Erik moved into product design and marketing.
move into + [new field/career]
The management moved João from customer service to lead the support team.
Kian used to eat meat daily, but he has slowly moved toward a plant-based diet.
Mateo's parents were against the idea at first but gradually moved to accept his decision.
文法句型
move from/away from [something] to [something]
用法筆記
Often used with a preposition such as 'away from', 'into', 'toward(s)', or 'to' to show the direction of the change.
常見錯誤
8. to touch someone's feelings so strongly that they feel pity, tenderness, or grea
to touch someone's feelings so strongly that they feel pity, tenderness, or great respect
The documentary about the earthquake victims deeply moved everyone in the hall.
deeply moved — common intensifier with this sense
Noor was moved to tears by the farewell letter her students had written.
be moved to tears — fixed expression
Christopher was moved by the old man's story and offered to pay for the repairs.
The judge's speech moved the young woman to apologize in front of the whole court.
Seeing the children's artwork hanging on the classroom wall moved Zuri deeply.
- harden
make emotionally unresponsive; 'harden one's heart'
文法句型
be moved + to-infinitive
be moved + preposition phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form ('be moved by something'). Common in formal and literary contexts. 'Be moved to tears' is a fixed expression.
常見錯誤
9. to sell goods that you have in a shop or warehouse, or to be bought by customers
to sell goods that you have in a shop or warehouse, or to be bought by customers
The shop needs to move its winter stock before the new season begins.
move + [stock/inventory] — sell off goods
These new headphones are moving fast, so the store ordered more units.
move fast — sell quickly
The manager reduced every price by half to move the remaining items.
Lisa's handmade candles move well at the weekend market near the river.
The furniture store could not move the old sofas even at a heavy discount.
文法句型
move + [product/inventory]
move quickly/slowly/fast
用法筆記
Common in commercial and retail contexts. When intransitive ('the product moves'), it means the product is being bought by customers.
10. to associate with a particular social group or type of people
to associate with a particular social group or type of people
Tanvi moves in artistic circles and counts several well-known painters among her friends.
move in + [adjective] + circles — fixed pattern
As a young journalist, James moved in circles where important political decisions were made.
After she became a university professor, Élise began moving in very different social circles.
The ambassador moved in the highest political circles throughout her career in Geneva.
Takeshi moved in circles that his traditional parents would never have approved of.
- mix with
less formal; 'mix with artists and writers'
- socialize with
focuses on social activity rather than group membership
- rub shoulders with
informal; suggests casual contact with prominent people
文法句型
move in + [adjective] + circles
用法筆記
Nearly always followed by 'in' plus a descriptive phrase such as 'academic circles', 'business circles', or 'artistic circles'. Never used without a modifier describing the type of group.
常見錯誤
11. to put forward an idea for discussion and a decision in a formal setting such as
to put forward an idea for discussion and a decision in a formal setting such as a meeting or courtroom
Vikram moved that the committee approve the proposal without any further changes.
move that + subjunctive — formal parliamentary procedure
The defence lawyer moved the court to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence.
move the court to [do something] — legal motion
One board member moved that the meeting be adjourned until the following Monday.
Takeshi moved a vote of thanks at the end of the annual conference.
The prosecution moved for a mistrial after the jury heard the disputed testimony.
- propose
more general; used in both formal and informal settings
- submit
emphasizes presenting a document or suggestion for consideration
- put forward
phrasal; 'put forward a motion'
文法句型
move that + [clause with subjunctive]
move for + [noun]
用法筆記
In formal meetings, the subjunctive form follows 'that' (e.g. 'moved that the proposal be accepted', not 'is accepted'). In law, 'move for' is used before a noun (e.g. 'move for summary judgment').
常見錯誤
12. (a medical term) to release solid waste from the bowels
(a medical term) to release solid waste from the bowels
The nurse asked whether the patient had moved her bowels since the operation.
move [one's] bowels — standard medical expression
Newborn babies usually move their bowels several times during the first day.
After the surgery, the doctor checked if Ryan could move his bowels normally.
Some pain medications make it harder for older patients to move their bowels regularly.
The elderly woman had not moved her bowels for four days and needed treatment.
- defecate
the direct medical term
- pass stool
equivalent clinical expression
文法句型
move [one's] bowels
用法筆記
Almost always used with the possessive determiner before 'bowels' ('move his bowels', 'move her bowels'). This is a polite, clinical term used mainly by medical professionals.
move — noun
- movesingular
- movesplural
1. a change from one position or place to another — for instance, turning your head
a change from one position or place to another — for instance, turning your head, standing up, or shifting a box across a table
Asher made a sudden move to the left, avoiding the falling branch.
collocation: make a move
The robot's first move after starting up was to raise its metal arm.
Kemi could see every move the goalkeeper made during the final match.
After one wrong move the tower of wooden blocks came crashing down.
With a careful move, Dr. Hyun lifted the tiny screw from the watch.
- stillness
the state of not moving at all
用法筆記
Frequently paired with the verb 'make' (make a move). In negative constructions, 'not make a move' means to stay completely still.
2. a single step, gesture, or short sequence of movements that belongs to a particu
a single step, gesture, or short sequence of movements that belongs to a particular style of dance
The dance teacher showed the class a new move called the spin turn.
Felix practised the same move until he could do it without looking at his feet.
The salsa competition required each couple to perform eight different moves.
Nicholas learned a fancy move that involved jumping and clapping at the same time.
- step
focuses on foot placement; narrower than 'move', which can include arm or body gestures
- dance step
more formal and instructional in tone
用法筆記
Common in dance instruction, fitness classes, and performance reviews. A 'move' can be a single gesture (like a hand wave) or a short sequence (like three steps and a turn).
常見錯誤
3. a player's turn in a board game to change the position of a piece, or the action
a player's turn in a board game to change the position of a piece, or the action of placing a piece in a new spot according to the game's rules
It was Indra's move, and she studied the chessboard before touching a piece.
common expression: 'It was [person]'s move'
Caio won the match in just seven moves, surprising everyone at the table.
"Whose move is it now?" asked Marta, glancing at the Scrabble board.
This move would put the king in check and end the game immediately.
用法筆記
Used with the possessive: 'my move', 'your move', 'his move'. The question 'Whose move is it?' asks for the next player. 'Make a move' in games means taking one's turn.
常見錯誤
4. the event of packing up your belongings and establishing yourself in a new home,
the event of packing up your belongings and establishing yourself in a new home, often in a different town or city
The move to a bigger apartment took most of the weekend to finish.
pattern: 'the move to [place]'
Tomás's company paid for all the costs of his move to Singapore.
Moving day arrived and boxes were stacked in every room of the old house.
Maeve said goodbye to her neighbours before the move to her new flat.
- relocation
more formal; often used in business or official contexts
- removal
British English; used especially by moving companies
用法筆記
Often preceded by 'the move to [place]'. 'Moving day' is a fixed expression for the day when a household moves to a new home. 'Make a move' is not used for change of residence.
常見錯誤
5. a deliberate action or choice intended to bring about a particular result or to
a deliberate action or choice intended to bring about a particular result or to deal with a situation
Raising the price was a bold move that surprised the shop's regular customers.
adjective + move: bold move / smart move / risky move
The government's latest move was to lower taxes for small businesses.
Noa decided that transferring to the London office was the right move for her career.
Anjali's first move as team leader was to create a clearer work schedule for everyone.
用法筆記
Common with evaluative adjectives: 'a good move', 'a smart move', 'a risky move', 'a bold move'. Also common in business and strategy contexts. 'A move' in this sense implies conscious planning, not random action.