26984 words

moves

26 definitions • 65 examples
1
to (cause to) change position:

Examples:

I'm so cold I can't move my fingers.
Will you help me move this table to the back room?
Can we move (= change the time of) the meeting from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. ?
Don't move! Stay right where you are.
I thought I could hear someone moving about/around upstairs.
If you move along/over/up (= go further to the side, back, or front) a little, Tess can sit next to me.
Police officers at the scene of the accident were asking people to move along/on (= to go to a different place).
Come on, it's time we were moving (= time for us to leave).
Let's stay here tonight, then move on (= continue our journey) tomorrow morning.
2
to change the position of one of the pieces used in a board game:

Examples:

In chess, the pieces can only move in certain directions.
3
to go to a different place to live or work:

Examples:

We're moving to Paris.
They've bought a new house, but it will need a lot of work before they can move into it/move in.
I hear Paula has moved in with her boyfriend (= gone to live in his house).
The couple next door moved away (= went to live somewhere else) last year.
A lot of businesses are moving out of London because it's too expensive.
4
to leave your home in order to live in a new one:

Examples:

We're moving house next week.
5
to (cause to) progress, change, or happen in a particular way or direction:

Examples:

The judge's decision will allow the case to move forward.
If you want to move ahead in your career, you'll have to work harder.
Sophie has been moved up/down a grade at school.
It's time this company moved into (= started to take advantage of the benefits of) the digital age.
6
to cause someone to take action:

Examples:

[ + obj + to infinitive ] formal I can't imagine what could have moved him to say such a thing.
7
to (cause to) change an opinion or the way in which you live or work:

Examples:

He's made up his mind, and nothing you can say will move him on the issue.
More and more people are movingaway from/towards vegetarianism.
8
to cause someone to have strong feelings, such as sadness, sympathy, happiness, or admiration:

Examples:

She said that she was deeply moved by all the letters of sympathy she had received.
It was such a sad film that it moved him to tears (= made him cry).
9
to sell:

Examples:

No one wants to buy these toys - we just can't move them.
This new shampoo is moving really fast.
10
to spend time with people:

Examples:

She moves in/among a very small circle of people.
11
to suggest something, especially formally at a meeting or in a law court:

Examples:

A vote was just about to be taken when someone stood up and said that they wished to move an amendment.
[ + that ] I move that the proposal be accepted.
Your Honour, we wish to move for dismissal of the charges.
12
(used especially by doctors and nurses) to pass the contents of the bowels out of the body:

Examples:

The doctor asked him if he'd moved his bowels that day.
13
an act of moving:

Examples:

She held the gun to his head and said, "One move and you're dead!"
I hate the way my boss watches my every move (= watches everything I do).
14
a movement or series of movements that form part of a dance:

Examples:

I picked up some new dance moves.
Show us your moves!
15
in some board games, a change of the position of one of the pieces used to play the game, or a change of position that is allowed by the rules, or a player's turn to move their piece:

Examples:

It takes a long time to learn all the moves in chess.
It's your move.
16
an occasion when you go to live or work in a different place:

Examples:

We've had four moves in three years.
17
an action taken to achieve something:

Examples:

Buying those shares was a good move.
This move towards improving childcare facilities has been widely welcomed.
[ + to infinitive ] The city council is making a move to improve traffic flow in the city.
18
to go to a different place in order to live or work, or to make someone do this:

Examples:

The company announced it would be moving staff from Houston to Dallas early next year.
move to/into a place I got a promotion last year that meant moving to Brussels.
For many years the trend has been for people to move from rural to urban areas.
19
if a store, office, factory, etc. moves, or if someone moves it, it becomes situated in another place:

Examples:

move to/from a place The bank's headquarters have now moved to Amsterdam.
20
to change the job that you do, or to make someone do this:

Examples:

If you're not happy working in your current team, we can move you.
move sb to sth After only six months at the firm, he was moved to sales.
move to/from/into sth She wants to move into corporate finance.
21
to take action or make progress:

Examples:

One financial analyst said the court decision could prompt the company to move more quickly on the issue.
move ahead/forward/away from sth The state is moving ahead with legislation reforms for small businesses.
22
if a product moves, or if a store, company, etc. moves it, it sells quickly:

Examples:

Our latest range of Internet TVs is really moving.
23
to officially suggest something during a meeting:

Examples:

move that I move that we adopt the resolution.
24
action that a person or organization takes in order to achieve something:

Examples:

a move to do sth Moves to block free access to music on the Internet have met with limited success.
a move by sb/sth Economists said a move by Japan to cut interest rates in isolation would have little effect on currency levels.
make a move (to do sth) Moves are being made to help future doctors make objective decisions.
first/next/latest move Our next move will crucially depend on the latest figures for inflation.
a move comes/follows The company's move comes as part of a wider industry crackdown on insurance fraud.
applaud/approve/condemn a move Investors are expected to applaud the move.
25
the process of changing from one system, activity, etc. to another:

Examples:

a move to/into sth Environmentalists have welcomed the move to congestion charging.
a move (away) from sth We have incorporated several new concepts in recent months, including a move from commission-only staff to a team bonus structure.
26
the process of changing the place where you live or work, or trading in a new place:

Examples:

a move from/to/into a place The move into Italy is part of a wider international expansion.

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