move 1 of 2

verb

ˈmüv How to pronounce move (audio)
Definition of movenext
1
as in to relocate
to change the place or position of I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to drive
to set or keep in motion the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shift
to change one's position don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to encourage
to rouse to strong feeling or action the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to persuade
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests the report moved me to change my mind about the issue

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to activate
to cause to function this one button moves the whole machine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to exit
to leave a place often for another the police officer told the loiterers to move along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

move

2 of 2

noun

1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result retiring early was a smart move

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2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position don't make a move

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb move differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of move are actuate, drive, and impel. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

In what contexts can actuate take the place of move?

The words actuate and move can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When might drive be a better fit than move?

While in some cases nearly identical to move, drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

Where would impel be a reasonable alternative to move?

The synonyms impel and move are sometimes interchangeable, but impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of move
Verb
She was again moved at 4 a.m. on March 26 to Burlington, Vermont, before she was finally transferred to the ICE detention center in Basile. —Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2025 This left him a lame-duck president prevented from moving forward on legislation to cut taxes and ease business regulations, as his main rivals in the Democratic Party used parliament to impeach key cabinet members and hold up a budget bill. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
Initially a frontrunner for the 2024 elections, he was forced to step aside, paving the way for ally José Raúl Mulino to take his place on the ballot—a move that ultimately secured Mulino the presidency. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 Those two aspirations are difficult while at Palace and therefore a move away would suit him. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for move
Recent Examples of Synonyms for move
  1. relocate
  2. drive
  3. shift
  4. affect
  5. encourage
  6. persuade
  7. activate
  8. exit
Verb
  • By 2019, Mush had relocated to Chicago and was pulling in $5 million in annual sales.
    — Chloe Sorvino, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The main interior difference is a spacious main salon made larger by relocating the bulky and imposing HVAC trunk (the main technical passageway for air that on previous models took up much of the formal dining area) to the exterior.
    — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of relocate
Verb
  • Comedian and car aficionado Jay Leno drove state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, in a 1976 Pontiac Trans-Am past the state Capitol on Tuesday, rallying support for legislation that would ease restrictions on classic cars.
    — HECTOR AMEZCUA, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Tate Beran drove in a pair of runs, while Ryan Kastor picked up his second save with two scoreless innings of relief.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Focus will now shift to international reporting requirements, most notably the European Union’s impact on U.S. businesses, and states like California and Colorado that are considering their own reporting mandates.
    — Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • With the usual caveat that lots can change in politics and the list could, and almost certainly will, shift dramatically the deeper Trump’s second administration goes.
    — David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of shift
Verb
  • The precise extent of the cancellations and the specific products affected remain unclear.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The bill's requirement to show proof of citizenship in person would affect millions more voters who do have the documentation but register by mail or online, the Brennan Center said.
    — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of affect
Verb
  • To bring in more visitors, Katsuo-ji came up with a creative way to encourage tourists to engage with the Daruma dolls.
    — Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The frantic trading, which sent stocks spiking before plummeting again, showed how investors are operating on a hair trigger and are eager for any sign of encouraging news.
    — Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • Again, this is a case of humans using AI to persuade people to adopt their views rather than an indication that AI is extreme or prone to suggesting extreme ideas and behaviors.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Last week, Meta’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, was at the White House to try to persuade the administration to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against Meta.
    — Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • Every morning, guests can watch as the Chronos opens the portals by lining them up and activating them.
    — Samantha Neely, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
  • In this case, we’re well served to recognize that our social capital is enriched by diversifying across those deeper, fewer connections as well as the more numerous casual relationships that often have an outsized positive impact when activated at the right time.
    — Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of activate
Verb
  • While stocks may continue their short-term celebration, the long-term sustainability of this rally is being undermined by something few are talking about: a major foreign holder of U.S. debt may be exiting the market in protest.
    — Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Wong remained in the game to finish the inning but soon exited.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of exit

Phrases Containing move

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movables
move
moved
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Cite this Entry

“Move.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/move. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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