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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

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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

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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

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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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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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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Memphis has also been engaged in talks about moving star guard Ja Morant. —CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026 After their 1981 wedding, Princess Diana and Prince Charles moved into Apartments 8 and 9 at Kensington Palace. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Learn more about how a creeping thyme lawn compares as an alternative to grass, and whether that's the right move for you. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026 Larry Page, the cofounder of Google, is one of many people making the move. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2026 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
  • The new store will create 17 additional jobs and will relocate 12 current employees to the new location.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
  • According to a report by Swiss multinational investment bank UBS, 36% of its 87 billionaire clients surveyed had already relocated at least once in 2025, while another 9% were considering doing so.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of relocate
Verb
  • Molecular motion drives repair In earlier animal studies, a single injection 24 hours after severe injury enabled mice to regain the ability to walk within weeks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management advised the public to secure loose outdoor items, watch for falling branches, and use caution while driving or walking.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Tenuous evidence of mass exodus Sensor Tower’s user data more fundamentally seems to suggest that beyond anecdotal claims, users have largely been unable to identify tangible changes in TikTok’s American operations, or at least, not enough to meaningfully shift user sentiment.
    — Matthew Chin, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
  • If the robot learns to pick up a bottle in an exact position and the bottle is shifted slightly, a system that only imitates will repeat the original gesture and fail.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of shift
Verb
  • When the estrogen hormone declines during perimenopause, the body’s insulin sensitivity decreases, too, which affects overall metabolism.
    — Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.
    — Simon Makin, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • Your 7th House of Partnership steadies as boundary-setting Saturn arrives, encouraging clear agreements across your closest bonds so your diplomatic style can bring fairness without overgiving.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The evening was more about the vibe; Gelman encourages all guests to dress up in fancy cocktail attire.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • But multiple Democratic senators said that's not enough to persuade them to back off their demands.
    — Riley Beggin, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Renato Renner of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is not persuaded that resolving the conflict between the Copenhagen and many-worlds interpretations solves all the problems.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • The garage sprinkler system had activated, helping control the fire prior to the department’s arrival, according to officials.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • The network previously confirmed that Guthrie would be exiting its Olympics coverage amid the search for her mother.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The intersection is controlled by stop signs, and many vehicles using the area are either getting onto southbound Highway 160 or exiting northbound Highway 160.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of exit

Phrases Containing move

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moved
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Cite this Entry

“Move.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/move. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on move

Nglish: Translation of move for Spanish Speakers

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