motion

noun

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mo·tion | \ ˈmō-shən

Definition of motion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : an act, process, or instance of changing place : movement a pendulum in motion

b : an active or functioning state or condition set the divorce proceedings in motion

2 : an impulse or inclination of the mind or will the fundamental motions of humanity to good or evil— T. S. Eliot

3a : a proposal for action especially : a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly made a motion that the meeting be adjourned

b : an application made to a court or judge to obtain an order, ruling, or direction His motion for a new trial was denied.

4 obsolete

a : a puppet show

b : puppet

5 : mechanism

6a : an act or instance of moving the body or its parts : gesture signaled with a motion of his arm

b motions plural : activities, movements taking advantage of the night to conceal his motions

7 : melodic change of pitch

in motion

American Football, of an offensive player : running parallel to the line of scrimmage before the snap

motion

verb

motioned; motioning\ ˈmō-sh(ə-)niŋ

Definition of motion (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to signal by a movement or gesture the pitcher motioned to the catcher

transitive verb

: to direct by a motion motioned me to the seat

Other Words from motion Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing motion Learn More About motion

Other Words from motion

Noun

motional \ ˈmō-shnəl

, -shə-nᵊl \ adjective

motionless \ ˈmō-shən-ləs

\ adjective

motionlessly adverb

motionlessness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for motion

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Antonyms: Noun

motionlessness

Examples of motion in a Sentence

Noun She has a simple golf swing with no wasted motion. the rhythmic motions of the waves He caught the ball and flipped it back to me in one fluid motion. The wax should be applied using a circular motion. He made hand motions to get our attention. She made a motion calling for the repeal of the law. Her motion was voted on. His lawyer filed a motion for a mistrial. The judge denied a motion to delay the hearing. Verb The guard motioned us through the gate. She motioned to her assistant. She motioned at the empty chair beside her and told me to sit down. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun If there are objections to the prime minister or the new Cabinet, lawmakers can submit a no-confidence motion to the house speaker when the body reconvenes on Tuesday. — Krishan Francis, BostonGlobe.com, 12 May 2022 The paperwork for both Ciani’s May 5 motion and the judge’s ruling were not made available for public viewing until Wednesday. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 12 May 2022 Orlando, the show also features large-scale paintings that Robb often used his hands to paint in gestural motion and flow. — Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2022 His lawyers have filed a flurry of last-minute appeals and challenges and were waiting late Tuesday for a possible review by the U.S. Supreme Court after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a motion. — Perry Vandell, USA TODAY, 11 May 2022 Perry's attorney could opt to refile a motion to delay the adult case after that appeal is filed. — Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11 May 2022 Schumer filed cloture on Monday on a motion to start debate on the Women's Health Protection Act, setting the bill up for a procedural roll call vote on Wednesday. — Libby Cathey, ABC News, 11 May 2022 One of the pleadings was a motion to dismiss the case for prosecutors’ failure to comply with the statutory provisions of the Office of the State Prosecutor, Seidel said. — Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 11 May 2022 Castel set a motion schedule and set the next court hearing for Sept. 28, 2022, at 11 a.m. — Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 11 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb According to a plea agreement dated March 17, Reeder pleaded guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, and the government will motion for the other charges against him to be dropped at his sentencing hearing. — baltimoresun.com, 10 Aug. 2021 Every now and then, a teammate will motion directions in between drills. — Sarah Mclellan, Star Tribune, 7 Jan. 2021 Trubisky tried to motion Mooney back toward the middle of the field but ultimately launched a trust throw into Soldier Field’s north end zone. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 22 Sep. 2020 But when the Falcons motion their fullback left, Bosa decreases his split from a 7 to a 6i. — Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, 20 Aug. 2020 DeWine handed the microphone to Acton, dressed in a dark suit, and had to motion her toward the podium. — Jessie Balmert, Cincinnati.com, 13 June 2020 The push, the pulls’ At the Emergency Operations Center, Fire Chief Charles Hood motioned for Emerick to step out of a meeting of the testing task force and into the central command space. — Brian Chasnoff, ExpressNews.com, 16 May 2020 Tatum motioned to Gordon Hayward, who caught a pass well beyond the left arc with 14 seconds left. — Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2020 Board Chairwoman Kathleen Causey raised the topic of the election for chair and vice chair, and Vice Chair Julie Henn immediately motioned to move the board into a closed administrative session without a closing statement that is required by law. — Cody Boteler, baltimoresun.com, 5 Dec. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'motion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near motion

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motion

Motion

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Last Updated

14 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motion. Accessed 19 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for motion

motion

noun

mo·tion | \ ˈmō-shən

Kids Definition of motion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an act or process of changing place or position : movement We felt the swaying motion of the train.

2 : a movement of the body or its parts … the motion of his arms was not unlike the flapping of a pair of wings.— Washington Irving, "Sleepy Hollow"

3 : a formal plan or suggestion for action offered according to the rules of a meeting She made a motion to adjourn.

motion

verb

motioned; motioning

Kids Definition of motion (Entry 2 of 2)

: to direct or signal by a movement or sign Instantly she set the bird down and motioned everyone away …— Carolyn Keene, The Double Jinx Mystery

motion

noun

mo·tion | \ ˈmō-shən

Medical Definition of motion

1 : an act, process, or instance of changing place : movement

2a : an evacuation of the bowels

b : the matter evacuated —often used in plural blood in the motions — Lancet

motion

noun

mo·tion

Legal Definition of motion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a proposal for action especially : a formal proposal made in a legislative assembly made a motion to refer the bill to committee

2a : an application made to a court or judge to obtain an order, ruling, or direction a motion to arrest judgment also : a document containing such an application

b : the initiative of a court to issue an order, ruling, or direction the court is given discretion to order a pretrial conference either on its own motion or at the request of a party— J. H. Friedenthal et al.

— motion for a more definite statement

: a motion that is filed before an answer and that requests the court to order the plaintiff to clarify allegations in the complaint because the claims are so vague or ambiguous that an answer cannot reasonably be framed

— motion for judgment on the pleadings

: a motion made after pleadings have been entered that requests the court to issue a judgment at that point — compare summary judgment at judgment sense 1a

Note: Under Rule 12(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, if matters outside of the pleadings are presented to the court when a motion for judgment on the pleadings is made, the motion will be treated as a motion for summary judgment.

— motion in limine \ -in-ˈli-mə-nē \

: a usually pretrial motion that requests the court to issue an interlocutory order which prevents an opposing party from introducing or referring to potentially irrelevant, prejudicial, or otherwise generally inadmissible evidence until the court has finally ruled on its admissibility

— motion to strike

1 : a motion in a civil trial to remove from a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter

2 : a motion in a criminal trial to exclude evidence from the record

— motion to suppress

: a pretrial motion requesting the court to exclude evidence that was obtained illegally and especially in violation of Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment protections

— omnibus motion \ ˈäm-ni-bəs- \

: a motion that makes multiple requests filing an omnibus motion to dismiss and for a more definite statement — Department of Ins. of Florida v. Coopers & Lybrand, 570 So. 2d 369 (1990)

motion

verb

Legal Definition of motion (Entry 2 of 2)

: move motioned for a summary judgment