motion 1 of 2

motion

2 of 2

verb

as in to wave
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture the referee motioned the team captains to confer with him on the sideline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of motion
Noun
This Sole elliptical features a whisper-quiet drive system, functions in backwards and forwards motion, and has a power incline feature that adds resistance and up to 20 incline levels. Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 3 Feb. 2023 If the judge approves the McDonald’s directors’ motion to dismiss, the claims against Mr. Fairhurst would be moot. Dylan Tokar, WSJ, 2 Feb. 2023
Verb
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 Marte had immediately motioned to the Padres dugout for assistance. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for motion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motion
Noun
  • Revelations about President Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and demands that the Justice Department release further documentation about the Epstein case, have sent shockwaves through the MAGA movement.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • The movement forced Viktor Yanukovych, a notoriously corrupt former president aligned with the Kremlin, to flee the country in 2014.
    Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • For example, open your jacket and raise or wave your arms.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 22 July 2025
  • Hicks also laughed at the hysteria while waving his hands as the bat entered the tower.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • Future studies should explore whether free-ranging elephants gesture intentionally to each other to communicate in the same way, researchers said.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
  • Each of the photos in the graphic contains the Star of David, gesturing towards centuries-old antisemitic tropes about hidden Jewish conspiracies of influence and power.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • The players decided together to make a unified move.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 21 July 2025
  • He was shown around the new stadium last week while completing his move and is still acclimatising after starting pre-season with Andoni Iraola’s south-coast side.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • This shift reflects the breakdown of chlorophyll and rise in carotenoids, which signal that sweetness is developing.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 July 2025
  • The Justice Department memo also signals a major shift in civil rights enforcement, disavowing the use of disparate impact theory to mandate multilingual services.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • The recent fight at San Diego City Hall over how many middle managers the city employs could signal the start of a shift away from such jobs in the future, after years of their ranks quickly growing.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • This shift to more English-only services comes months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motion. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on motion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!