as in movement
the act or an instance of changing position
we were instructed not to make any sudden motions or we might scare away the deer
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Recent Examples of motion
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 18 May 2026
The wheels were set in motion, and Kubicek started digging to find out whether anything like it had been done before.
—Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
Sam Amick, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Video footage shared online at the time showed that Queen Camilla motioned for Kate Middleton to move with a subtle sweep of her hand a few moments after the Princess of Wales joined the Queen's conversation with Melania during the official welcome at Windsor Castle.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motion
Noun
The curatorial politics of Sala54 was constructed in a collaborative way, understanding Black thinking as multiple and in motion.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 18 May 2026
The wheels were set in motion, and Kubicek started digging to find out whether anything like it had been done before.
—Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
Verb
The last time came with 60 seconds left and the Rockets up five, when Udoka motioned for 21-year-old Reed Sheppard and 23-year-old Amen Thompson to come his way for a quick gathering while the Lakers’ Austin Reaves was at the free throw line.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Video footage shared online at the time showed that Queen Camilla motioned for Kate Middleton to move with a subtle sweep of her hand a few moments after the Princess of Wales joined the Queen's conversation with Melania during the official welcome at Windsor Castle.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motion
Noun
-
The tiered design is complemented by a functional front button placket for easy customization, and the billowy sleeves add movement.—
Destinee Scott,
Travel + Leisure,
18 May 2026
-
Opt for the signature Polynesian massage, which mimics soothing wave-like movements from head to toe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Now, Hilton rarely deviates from her signature look, of which long, perfectly curled or waved blonde hair is a key element.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
18 May 2026
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After landing her final move, Liu waved and bowed to each corner of the arena, leaving no section without attention.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
Noun
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The conventions of American journalism don’t serve this shifting, multi-sided reality well.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Land borders dispute since 1948 The creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which led to the mass displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians and a subsequent Arab-Israeli war in 1948, led to a further shifting of borders in the region.—
Mireille Rebeiz,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gray shook his head in mock frustration and gestured at his phone as the call went to Johansson’s voicemail.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 May 2026
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This likely created new evolutionary pressure for specialized hand use during tasks such as carrying objects, manipulating tools, or gesturing.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Private equity companies would be banned from investing in youth sports teams, leagues, facilities and events under a new federal bill, a move lawmakers say would lower participation costs for families and restore control of a public good to local communities.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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Choose the move that makes the whole vision feel more possible.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Verb
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As of Sunday afternoon, early-voting data appeared to show Democrats with a 15-point turnout advantage over Republicans, signaling an enthusiasm gap that has added to Republican anxieties about the state of the Senate race heading into November.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
18 May 2026
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In a state with more than 23 million voters and hugely expensive media markets, the money signaled Mahan would be a contender.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
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The pair was also on the ice for Dahlin’s goal on the game’s opening shift.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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This shift will only happen if the public demands it.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Noun
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The league constitution is a contract between teams, owners and the league that details league authority over teams, including with respect to ownership, relocation, discipline and territorial rights.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
19 May 2026
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Leaders will also meet in executive session to address the lawsuit and potential relocation plans for city staff.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motion. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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