as in waved
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
the referee motioned the team captains to confer with him on the sideline
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motioned
On one second-quarter play, Colby Parkinson motioned from inline to outside of Puka Nacua, drawing cornerback Derek Stingley out to cover him instead of the Pro Bowl receiver.
—
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
The man calmly motioned to the back of his station wagon.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
From his Mercedes Benz, parked nearby, Martin spotted Davis and motioned him over, Davis wrote in his book.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.
—Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Prescott quickly motioned to a nearby official, who threw the flag and sent Carter packing.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
The pitch clock was winding down on Valdez, and Salazar motioned with his hands for Valdez to step off the mound and use a timeout.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After the complaint was filed, a department named in the filing — the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office — motioned for Hartig to recuse herself from its cases.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Firing the thrusters in reverse wouldn’t extricate it, so Khatib took control of the arms, motioned for the bot to perform a sort of pushup, and OceanOne was free.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Apr. 2016
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
The man calmly motioned to the back of his station wagon.
—Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
From his Mercedes Benz, parked nearby, Martin spotted Davis and motioned him over, Davis wrote in his book.
—Gina Barton, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025
That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.
—Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Prescott quickly motioned to a nearby official, who threw the flag and sent Carter packing.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
The pitch clock was winding down on Valdez, and Salazar motioned with his hands for Valdez to step off the mound and use a timeout.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
After the complaint was filed, a department named in the filing — the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office — motioned for Hartig to recuse herself from its cases.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Firing the thrusters in reverse wouldn’t extricate it, so Khatib took control of the arms, motioned for the bot to perform a sort of pushup, and OceanOne was free.
—Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motioned
Verb
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Head referee Sergii Boiko initially waved play on, but overturned his call after going to the monitor for a second look.—
Franco Panizo,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
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On fourth down a flag was thrown for what looked like pass interference on the Mustangs, but after the officials huddled, the penalty was waved off giving the ball back to the Bulldogs.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, Aitana Bonmati gestured to the stands to be quiet, so that her team-mate could focus.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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For example, humpbacks gestured with their pectoral fins toward dolphins on 172 occasions.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Motioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motioned. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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