# move on

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/move-on
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to stop doing or talking about one thing and start something new. You use this when you finish a task or when you decide to forget a past problem and look at the future.

For teachers: to progress to a new stage, activity, or topic after concluding a previous one. The verb is typically intransitive but often takes a prepositional phrase starting with 'to' to indicate the next focus.

## Examples

- Let's move on to the next item on the agenda.
- After the breakup, it took her several months to finally move on and start dating again.
- Having addressed the preliminary concerns regarding the budget, the committee decided to move on to the more contentious issue of staff restructuring.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I want to move on the next chapter." but "I want to move on to the next chapter." — the preposition 'to' is necessary when specifying the new topic or destination.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by 'to' when you mention the new topic or activity.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'carry on' to show the difference between continuing an action and changing to a new one.

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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.