What does "motion" mean?

1. (physical movement) the act or process of moving from one place to another. 2. (formal proposal) a formal suggestion that a group should vote on in a meeting. 3. (legal request) a formal request made to a judge to make a decision or take an action. 4. (success and status) having success, money, or influence that others admire. 5. (digestion) the act of passing waste from the body. 6. (to gesture) to make a movement with your hand or head to tell someone what to do.

How do you use "motion"?

often followed by a preposition like 'to' or 'towards'

motion

n. · v.

US //ˈmoʊʃən// UK //mˈəʊʃən// mo·tion

1 physical movement (n.)
B1 Intermediate Physics

the act or process of moving from one place to another.

the action or process of moving or being moved; physical displacement over time.

Example

The rocking motion of the boat made several passengers feel a bit sick.

Example

The laws of physics describe how forces act upon an object to change its state of motion or rest.
- stillness
- rest
2 formal proposal (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

a formal suggestion that a group should vote on in a meeting.

a formal proposal put to a legislature or meeting for debate and a subsequent vote.

Example

The committee passed a motion to increase the budget for the new library.

Example

After a heated debate, the board rejected the motion to dissolve the subcommittee, citing a lack of alternative oversight.

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3 legal request (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

a formal request made to a judge to make a decision or take an action.

a formal application made to a court or judge for an order or a ruling.

Example

The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case due to a lack of evidence.

Example

The defence attorney submitted a motion for a change of venue, arguing that local media coverage had prejudiced the potential jury pool.
- application
- petition
4 success and status (n.)
C2 Proficiency Slang

having success, money, or influence that others admire.

a state of having significant momentum, success, or social influence, often associated with wealth.

Example

He started his own business and now he's really got motion in this city.

Example

The young entrepreneur's rapid rise in the tech world gave him the kind of motion that attracted major investors overnight.
5 digestion (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Technical Medicine

the act of passing waste from the body.

an evacuation of the bowels; the act of defecating.

Example

The doctor asked the patient if they had experienced a regular bowel motion.

Example

Post-operative care instructions included monitoring the patient for their first bowel motion to ensure the digestive system had resumed normal function.
- bowel movement
6 to gesture (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to make a movement with your hand or head to tell someone what to do.

to direct or command someone by making a gesture.

Example

The waiter motioned for us to follow him to a table near the window.

Example

The usher motioned the latecomers toward the side aisle, whispering that they should wait for the intermission before finding their assigned seats.

Usage

often followed by a preposition like 'to' or 'towards'

Origin

Inherited from Middle English mocioun, mocion, from Anglo-Norman motion, Middle French motion, and their etymon Latin mōtiō (“movement, motion”), related to movēre, from Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- (“to move”).

Word family

Nounmotion
Adjectivemotionless

Idioms5 entries