motion

1 of 2

noun

mo·​tion ˈmō-shən 

1

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

6

a

: 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

motional

ˈmō-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

motionless

ˈmō-shən-ləs 

adjective

motionlessly adverb

motionlessness noun

motion

2 of 2

verb

motioned; motioning ˈmō-sh(ə-)niŋ 

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

Phrases

in motion

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

Synonyms

Noun

• movement
• shifting
• move
• shift
• relocation

Verb

• wave
• gesture
• signal

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In open session at 5 p.m., the council will give final approval to a change in council procedures to allow for a motion and second before further consideration of an agenda item. —Laura Groch feb. 5, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2023

The ruling, issued Monday by U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty in the Southern District of New York, denied a motion brought by individuals and mental health organizations in December. —Celina Tebor, CNN, 4 Feb. 2023

Verb

Harvey flared out of the backfield plenty in OTAs and minicamp, and could get motioned all over Payton’s offense in 2025. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 9 July 2025

Seeing nothing amiss, the sergeant took the forged pass and motioned for Calvin to go inside. —Literary Hub july 8, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English mocioun, from Anglo-French motion, from Latin motion-, motio movement, from movēre to move

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1747, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing motion

• Brownian motion
• harmonic motion
• motion capture
• motion picture
• motion sickness
• poetry in motion
• put in/into motion
• set in motion
• set the wheels in motion
• slow motion
• stop-motion

Rhymes for motion

• lotion
• notion
• ocean
• potion
• commotion
• demotion
• devotion
• emotion
• laotian
• promotion
• locomotion

Kids Definition

motion

1 of 2 noun

mo·​tion ˈmō-shən 

1

: a formal plan or suggestion for action offered according to the rules of a meeting

a motion to adjourn

2

a

: an act or process of changing place or position : movement

b

: an act or instance of moving the body or its parts : gesture

motionless

-ləs 

adjective

motionlessly adverb

motionlessness noun

motion

2 of 2 verb

motioned; motioning ˈmō-sh(ə-)niŋ 

: to direct or signal by a movement or sign

motioned me to come forward

Medical Definition

motion

noun

mo·​tion ˈmō-shən 

1

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

2

a

: an evacuation of the bowels

b

: the matter evacuated

—often used in plural

blood in the motions

—Lancet

Legal Definition

motion

1 of 2 noun

mo·​tion

1

: a proposal for action

especially : a formal proposal made in a legislative assembly

made a motion to refer the bill to committee

2

a

: 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

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

: 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

2 of 2 verb

: move

motioned for a summary judgment

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from Latin motion-, motio movement, from movēre to move

Biographical Definition

Motion

biographical name

Mo·​tion ˈmō-shən 

Sir Andrew 1952–     British poet; poet laureate (1999–2009)