movement

move·ment | \ ˈmüv-mənt

Definition of movement

1a(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 pluralcarefully watched the movements of the crowd

2a : 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

4a : 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

5a : 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)

6a : 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 & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about movement

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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 This raises issues of data movement across a new information border between the U.K. and the bloc post-Brexit. — Ben Dummett, WSJ, "London Stock Exchange Group Sells Italian Exchange for $5.1 Billion, Paving Way for Refinitiv Deal," 9 Oct. 2020 Generally speaking, the anti-vax movement believes that vaccines are poisonous and dangerous, which is not accurate. — Adrienne Dunn, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Viral post that claims COVID-19 is a fraud cites no evidence," 9 Oct. 2020 Visible in the closet behind him are Hawaiian shirts - common symbols of the violently anti-government Boogaloo movement. — Anchorage Daily News, "Michigan kidnapping plot, like so many extremist crimes, was foreshadowed on social media," 9 Oct. 2020 Under a state of emergency, the government can use extraordinary legal powers to limit people’s movement. — Andrea Dudik, Bloomberg.com, "Europe Holds Crisis Talks as Spain Seeks Lockdown Powers," 9 Oct. 2020 Ford would also acknowledge using some special methods to add movement to his pitches, including saliva, mud and dirt and cutting the ball with a ring. — CBS News, "Whitey Ford, Yankees legend and Hall of Fame pitcher, dies at 91," 9 Oct. 2020 Whitmer had put major restrictions on personal movement and the economy to control the spread of the coronavirus, although many of those limits have been lifted since spring. — David Eggert And Ed White, chicagotribune.com, "Michigan governor and her family were moved as kidnap plotters were tracked, state attorney general says," 9 Oct. 2020 Ford would also acknowledge using some special methods to add movement to his pitches, including saliva, mud and dirt and cutting the ball with a ring. — sun-sentinel.com, "Whitey Ford, pitcher who epitomized mighty Yankees, dies at 91," 9 Oct. 2020 The 37-year-old was diagnosed at age 2 with a genetic disease that, among other things, affects the central nervous system and voluntary muscle movement. — NBC News, "Meet the Black woman advocating for greater disability visibility," 9 Oct. 2020

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

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