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
T. S. Eliot3
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
5
6
a
: an act or instance of moving the body or its parts : gesture
signaled with a motion of his arm
b
7
: melodic change of pitch
motionlessly
adverb
motionlessness
noun
motioned; motioning
ˈmō-sh(ə-)niŋ 
: to signal by a movement or gesture
the pitcher motioned to the catcher
: to direct by a motion
motioned me to the seat
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
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
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Morris also motioned for Gateway attorney David Middlebrook to be removed from the case.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motion
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.
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
The sitter motioned with her hands for the Sheltie to come with her to go outside.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Morris also motioned for Gateway attorney David Middlebrook to be removed from the case.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for motion
Cite this Entry
“Motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motion. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
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.
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)
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share