1 a [+ obj] : to cause (something or someone) to go from one place or position to another
▪ He moved the chair closer to the table. ▪ It may be necessary to move the patient to intensive care. ▪ The breeze moved the branches of the trees. ▪ The knife had sunk deeply into the wood and couldn't be moved. [=budged]
b [no obj] : to go from one place or position to another
▪ The boat moved [=rocked] slowly from side to side as the wind rose. ▪ The branches moved gently in the breeze. 2 a : to cause (your body or a part of your body) to go from one position to another [+ obj] ▪ She was unable to move her legs. ▪ Nobody moved a muscle. [=nobody moved at all; everyone was very still] [no obj] ▪ The dancers moved gracefully. ▪ Nobody moved. ▪ She was so frightened that she could hardly move. ▪ I moved over so that she could sit next to me.
b [no obj] : to go or walk from one place to another
▪ We moved into the shade. ▪ The police were moving through the crowd telling people to move toward the exit. ▪ People were moving (about/around) freely. ▪ We could hear someone moving around upstairs. ▪ move along ▪ They moved closer to each other and spoke in whispers. 3 [+ obj] a : to cause (something) to go to a specified place or to proceed in a specified way
▪ The records show that she moved large amounts of money to a foreign bank account. ▪ He lacks enough support to move his proposals through the legislature.
b : to cause (something) to happen at a different time
▪ The meeting has been moved [=changed] to this afternoon. 4 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to go to a different and usually higher position [no obj] ▪ The team has moved into second place. ▪ She has been steadily moving up the corporate ladder. ▪ Congratulations on your promotion. It's nice to see how you're moving up in the world. [+ obj] ▪ A win will move the team into second place. 5 a : to go to a different place to live [no obj] ▪ We've had to move twice in the past year. ▪ He didn't like small towns and decided to move to the city. ▪ We're planning to move into a new apartment. ▪ He moved (away) with his family to California. [+ obj] ▪ He moved his family to California. ▪ (Brit) We've had to move house twice in the past year.
b : to go to a different place to work or do business [no obj] ▪ The company is moving from New York to Chicago. [+ obj] ▪ The company is moving its offices from New York to Chicago. — see also moving 3 6 [+ obj] a : to affect the feelings of (someone) : to cause (someone) to feel an emotion and especially sadness or sympathy
▪ The sad story of his childhood moved us deeply. ▪ I was greatly moved by his story/kindness. ▪ He's not easily moved to anger. [=he does not become angry easily] ▪ His story moved us to tears. [=it affected us so strongly that we cried] — see also moving 2
b : to cause (someone) to act or think in a specified way — followed by to + verb ▪ The report moved [=persuaded] me to change my mind. ▪ His arguments moved them to reconsider the plan. ▪ I felt moved [=compelled] to speak.
c : to cause (someone) to feel or think in a different way
▪ We were unable to move him from his convictions. ▪ He would not be moved. 7 [no obj] : to take action : act
▪ We need to move quickly to close this deal. ▪ He was waiting for the right time to move against his enemies. ▪ She hasn't yet moved on their recommendations. ▪ We must move [=proceed] very carefully to avoid offending them. 8 a : to formally make a suggestion or proposal at a meeting [no obj] — + for ▪ She moved for an adjournment. [+ obj] ▪ She moved to adjourn the meeting. = She moved that the meeting be adjourned.
b [no obj] law : to make a formal request to a court of law or judge for something to be done or happen — + for ▪ His lawyer moved for a mistrial. ▪ The plaintiff moved for a retrial. 9 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to make progress
▪ The plot of the novel moves [=develops] slowly. ▪ They're moving closer to making a decision. 10 informal : sell [+ obj] ▪ a store that moves a lot of merchandise [no obj] ▪ The products have been moving slowly. 11 [no obj] informal : to go fast
▪ When the police car passed us it was really moving. 12 [no obj] : to spend time with a particular group of people or at a particular level of society
▪ She moves in high circles. [=she is friendly with wealthy and powerful people] ▪ She and her sister move in very different circles. [=they are friendly with very different groups of people] 13 [no obj] informal : to leave a place
▪ It was getting late and I thought it was time to be moving. [=going] 14 : to cause a piece in a game (such as chess or checkers) to go from one place to another [+ obj] ▪ He moved a pawn. [no obj] ▪ It's your turn to move.