ENGLISH
REFERENCE

movement

n. C / U
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈmuvmənt// UK //mˈuːvmənt// move·ment Archaic General-service

n. the act of changing position or going from one place to another. It can also mean a group of people working together to change something in society.

n. the act or process of changing physical location or posture; alternatively, a collective organized effort by a group of people to achieve a specific social or political goal.


SIMPLE

The cat's sudden movement scared the birds away.

CONTEXTUAL

The civil rights movement worked for many years to change unfair laws and ensure equality for everyone.

COMPLEX

The choreographer noticed a slight restriction in the dancer's movement, suggesting that the previous injury had not yet fully healed despite weeks of physical therapy.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English mevement, from Old French movement (modern French mouvement), from movoir + -ment; cf. also Medieval Latin movimentum, from Latin movere (“move”). Doublet of moment and momentum. In this sense, displaced native Old English styring, which led to Modern English stirring. Morphologically move + -ment.

Usage

Countable when referring to a specific change in position or a social group; uncountable when referring to the general concept of moving.

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