movement

noun

move·​ment ˈmüv-mənt 

1

a(1)

: the act or process of moving

especially : change of place or position or posture

studying the movement of planets

(2)

: a particular instance or manner of moving

was entranced by her graceful movements

b(1)

: a tactical or strategic shifting of a military unit : maneuver

(2)

: the advance of a military unit

the steady movement of troops across the border

c

: action, activity

—usually used in plural

carefully watched the movements of the crowd

2

a

: tendency, trend

detected a movement toward fairer pricing

b

: a series of organized activities working toward an objective

also : an organized effort to promote or attain an end

the civil rights movement

a movement to increase the minimum wage

3

: the moving parts of a mechanism that transmit a definite motion

4

a

: motion sense 7

b

: the rhythmic character or quality of a musical composition

a dance movement

c

: a distinct structural unit or division having its own key, rhythmic structure, and themes and forming part of an extended musical composition

The symphony consisted of three movements.

d

: particular rhythmic flow of language : cadence

a poem's movement

5

a

: the quality (as in a painting or sculpture) of representing or suggesting motion

b

: the vibrant quality in literature that comes from elements that constantly hold a reader's interest (such as a quickly moving action-filled plot)

6

a

: an act of voiding (see void entry 3 sense 2a) the bowels : bowel movement sense 3a

b

: matter expelled from the bowels at one passage : stool sense 3a

Synonyms

• motion
• move
• shift
• shifting
• stir
• stirring

Examples of movement in a Sentence

He developed an efficient system for movement of raw materials to the factory.

studying the movements of the planets

We wore loose clothes to allow for easier movement.

the graceful movements of a dancer

The police have been keeping a careful record of his movements.

There's a movement afoot to rename the town.

a book about the history of the civil rights movement

They joined the antiwar movement.

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, any farm where bird flu positive cows have been discovered will be required to undergo epidemiological investigation and movement tracing, said Mike Watson, administrator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024

The hand-wound movement provides a power reserve of 38 hours. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024

That sentence was added in 1972 during the rise of what was then called the gay rights movement. —Jason Derose, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024

In a months-long reporting project, NPR uncovered the conservative movement working to sabotage the system, despite the Republican Party’s claims that it is dedicated to catching and rooting out voting improprieties. —Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024

After that protest movement was violently crushed, Myanmar seemed to slip further back in time, while most of Asia urbanized and prospered. —Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024

The protests are spreading: Students at other Boston-area colleges, like MIT, Tufts and Emerson, have begun their own solidarity encampments, and the movement has also expanded to other prominent universities like Cal-Berkeley and Michigan. —USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024

The movements can definitely feel awkward at first. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 23 Apr. 2024

That virtuous circle depends on freedoms in a political context under direct threat from the populist authoritarianism movement led by Donald Trump. —Michael S. Roth, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing movement

• bowel movement
• counter-movement
• euglenoid movement
• Oxford movement
• pincer movement
• rapid eye movement
• rapid eye movement sleep

Kids Definition

movement

noun

move·​ment ˈmüv-mənt 

1

a

: the act or process of moving

b

: an instance or manner of moving

observe the movement of a star

2

: a tendency or trend

detected a movement toward fairer pricing

3

a

: a program or series of acts working toward a desired end

a movement for political reform

b

: the group taking part in such a series of acts

join the movement

4

: a mechanical arrangement (as of wheels) for causing a particular motion (as in a clock or watch)

5

: a section of a longer piece of music

6

: bowel movement

Medical Definition

movement

noun

move·​ment ˈmüv-mənt 

1

: the act or process of moving

2

a

: an act of voiding the bowels : bowel movement

b

: matter expelled from the bowels at one passage : stool