# move

/ˈmuv/ (US) · /mˈuːv/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to change position

verb · CEFR A1

to change your position or go from one place to another.

For teachers: to change physical place or posture; to go from one position to another. Often used intransitively.

- Don't move while I take your photo or it will be blurry.
- The security guard noticed a shadow move behind the crates and immediately radioed for backup.

### 2. to change home

verb · CEFR A2

to go and live in a different house or city.

For teachers: to change one's place of residence or business location.

- We are planning to move to a bigger apartment next month.
- After twenty years in the city, the family decided to move to the countryside to enjoy a slower pace of life.

### 3. to affect emotions

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or sympathy.

For teachers: to arouse strong feelings or passions, particularly tenderness, compassion, or empathy.

- The singer's beautiful performance moved many people in the audience to tears.
- The documentary about the refugee crisis moved the viewers so deeply that donations to the charity tripled overnight.

### 4. to propose formally

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to suggest something officially at a meeting so that people can vote on it.

For teachers: to propose a motion formally for consideration and determination in a deliberative assembly or court.

- The lawyer moved that the trial be delayed until new evidence was found.
- The chairperson moved to adjourn the meeting, but the committee insisted on finishing the budget review first.

### 5. a strategic action

noun · CEFR B1

something you do to achieve a goal or follow a plan.

For teachers: an action taken to achieve a specific objective or as part of a broader strategy.

- Buying that small company was a smart move for their business.
- The CEO's decision to lower prices was a bold move designed to capture a larger share of the emerging market.

### 6. a turn in a game

noun · CEFR A2

the act of changing the position of a piece in a game like chess.

For teachers: the act of transferring a token or piece on a gameboard according to specific rules.

- It is your move, so please decide which piece you want to play.
- He spent ten minutes contemplating his next move, eventually deciding to sacrifice his knight to protect the queen.

### 7. physical motion

noun · CEFR B1

a specific way of moving your body, often in dance or sports.

For teachers: a formalised or practised physical action used in athletics, dance, or combat.

- The dancer practiced the difficult move until she could do it perfectly.
- The gymnast executed a flawless move on the balance beam, earning a standing ovation from the judges.

## Examples

- Opening a second office was a smart business move.
- The company's latest move into the Asian market has surprised many of its competitors.
- Analysts viewed the sudden interest rate hike as a defensive move by the central bank to curb rising inflation before the fiscal year ended.

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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.