# motion

/ˈmoʊʃən/ (US) · /mˈəʊʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/motion
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical movement

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The rocking motion of the boat made several passengers feel a bit sick.
- The laws of physics describe how forces act upon an object to change its state of motion or rest.

### 2. formal proposal

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

- The committee passed a motion to increase the budget for the new library.
- After a heated debate, the board rejected the motion to dissolve the subcommittee, citing a lack of alternative oversight.

### 3. legal request

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

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

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

- The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case due to a lack of evidence.
- The defence attorney submitted a motion for a change of venue, arguing that local media coverage had prejudiced the potential jury pool.

### 4. success and status

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

having success, money, or influence that others admire.

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

- He started his own business and now he's really got motion in this city.
- The young entrepreneur's rapid rise in the tech world gave him the kind of motion that attracted major investors overnight.

### 5. digestion

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

the act of passing waste from the body.

For teachers: an evacuation of the bowels; the act of defecating.

- The doctor asked the patient if they had experienced a regular bowel motion.
- Post-operative care instructions included monitoring the patient for their first bowel motion to ensure the digestive system had resumed normal function.

### 6. to gesture

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: to direct or command someone by making a gesture.

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

## Examples

- The slow motion of the clouds is very relaxing.
- The lawyer filed a motion to dismiss the case based on a lack of evidence.
- Newton's laws describe how the motion of an object changes when it is subjected to external forces, providing a foundation for classical mechanics.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.