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- DictionaryMove/mo͞ov/
verb
- 1. go in a specified direction or manner; change position: "she stood up and moved to the door" Similar gowalkproceedprogressadvancepassbudgestirshiftchange positionmake a moverare:locomoteOpposite stay put
- ▪ change the place or position of: "she moved the tray to a side table" Similar carrytransporttransfertransposeshiftswitch
- ▪ change one's place of residence or work: "his family moved to London when he was a child" Similar relocatemove housemove away/outchange address/houseleavego awaydecampchange jobsmigrateemigrateflitinformal:splitup stickspull up stakes
- ▪ (of a player) change the position of a piece in a board game: "White has forced his opponent to move"
- ▪ depart; start off: informal "let's move—it's time we started shopping"
- ▪ hurry up: informal "come on—move it!"
- ▪ go quickly: informal "Kenny was really moving when he made contact with a tire at the hairpin and flipped over"
- ▪ (with reference to merchandise) sell or be sold: "booksellers should easily be able to move this biography of Lincoln"
- ▪ used to urge or command someone to hurry up: informal "come on—move it!"
- 2. make progress; develop in a particular manner or direction: "aircraft design had moved forward a long way" Similar progressmake progressmake headwayadvancedevelopOpposite stagnate
- ▪ change or cause to change from one state, opinion, sphere, or activity to another: "the school moved over to the new course in 1987" Similar changebudgeshift one's groundchange one's tunesing a different songchange one's mindchange one's opinionhave second thoughtsdo a U-turndo an about-facereconsiderclimb downbackpedaldo an about-turn
- ▪ take action: "hardliners may yet move against him, but their success might be limited" Similar take actionacttake stepsmake a movedo somethingtake measurestake the initiativeinformal:get movingOpposite do nothing
- 3. influence or prompt (someone) to do something: "his deep love of music moved him to take lessons with Dr. Hill" Similar inspirepromptstimulatemotivateprovokeinfluencerouseactuateinclinepersuadeurgeleadcauseimpelinduceinciteexcite
- ▪ provoke a strong feeling, especially of sorrow or sympathy, in: "he was moved to tears by a get-well message from the president"
- ▪ stir up (an emotion) in someone: archaic "he justly moves one's derision" Similar affecttouchstrikeimpressshakeupsetdisturbhitdisquietagitatestirmake an impression onhave an impact ontug at someone's heartstringsOpposite be unaffected (by)be indifferent (to)
- 4. propose for discussion and resolution at a meeting or legislative assembly: "she intends to move an amendment to the Bill" Similar proposesubmitsuggestput forwardadvocaterecommendrequesturge
- ▪ make a formal request or application to (a court or assembly) for something: archaic "his family moved the court for adequate “maintenance expenses” to run the household"
- 5. empty (one's bowels): "if you haven't moved your bowels today you'd better do it now"
noun
- 1. a change of place, position, or state: "she made a sudden move toward me" Similar movementmotionactionactivitygesturegesticulation
- ▪ a change of house or business premises: "Annie mourned her move from the noisy, crowded town to the peace of the countryside" Similar relocationchange of house/address/jobremovaltransferpostingflitflitting
- ▪ an action that initiates or advances a process or plan: "my next move is to talk to Matthew" Similar initiativestepactionactmeasuretackmaneuvertacticstratagemdeedgambitployrusetrickdodge
- ▪ a maneuver in a sport or game: "Robson began a move which saw Webb run from the halfway line down the right"
- ▪ a change of position of a piece in a board game: "that move will put your king in check"
- ▪ a player's turn to make a change of position: "it's your move" Similar turngoplayopportunitychanceinformal:shot
Word Origin Middle English: from Old French moveir, from Latin movere.
Scrabble Points: 9
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3O
1V
4E
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