motion 1 of 2

noun

ˈmō-shən How to pronounce motion (audio)
Definition of motionnext
as in movement
the act or an instance of changing position we were instructed not to make any sudden motions or we might scare away the deer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
However, unlike many other spiral galaxies, the gas in the outer reaches of this one rotates in the opposite direction to the gas and stars closer to its center, creating an especially unusual motion. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Bring the foot back to hip distance, shifting your hands and weight to repeat this motion on the other side. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
The hub of the spaceship was too crowded and chaotic for communication, so Frank Kuligowski motioned his pal to the peace of a nearby corridor. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 26 July 2026 Hamrick said to his companion, motioning to a spot short of the summit. — John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for motion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motion
  1. movement
  2. wave
  3. shifting
  4. gesture
  5. move
  6. signal
  7. shift
  8. relocation
Noun
  • But with no enforceable salary cap and unlimited player movement, every year can be wildly different.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers demonstrated the material in a data-glove system that detected hand movements and translated them into corresponding movements on a robotic model in real time.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of movement
Verb
  • The Beaver’s Mini Mart mascot is a full beaver, unclothed, waving and smiling against a white background.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Though Sex and the City ended two entire decades ago, many of her most valuable life lessons—usually delivered via purring, zingy one-liners, either with a dirty martini in one hand or while waving a fork over brunch—feel just as relevant today.
    — Daisy Jones, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of wave
Noun
  • Second, the recent shifting of US export control policy has created a real concern among other nations that access to frontier intelligence itself could someday be gated by geopolitics, not just chips.
    — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Recorded on a Tascam four-track in her Los Angeles living room, the demos capture Auf der Maur experimenting with acoustic guitar, bass, layered vocals and lo-fi tape manipulation, including reversing cassettes and pitch-shifting.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 20 July 2026
Definition of shifting
Verb
  • The president gestured at Nathaniel Rai, a 10-year-old who was rescued from rough surf in Santa Cruz by lifeguard Ryder Williams, who sat across from him in the Oval Office.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • After all, as Lewis-Skelly gestured to those at the Emirates, home is where the heart is.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of gesture
Noun
  • Friday’s hanging was the first by Takaichi’s government and comes during a parliamentary recess — a move criticized as a tactic to avoid public debate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For breakfast, Washed Up Cafe’s breakfast burrito is my post-beach move, while Edible Island’s poke and Brothers smoothies make easy daytime stops.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of move
Verb
  • That puts the focus on the Bank of Japan, which Kochugovindan said needs to raise rates and signal a faster pace of policy normalization.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Sarah Min, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2026
  • But the variety of the game results signals a blank script for this matchup.
    — PJ Green August 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of signal
Noun
  • He was named as the new security chief this month in what was seen as a shift to a more aggressive approach to that under the late supreme leader.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • To learn how a memory that can last for years can sit on hardware that shifts every few days, Tanaka’s team made the shift a bit more dramatic.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of shift
Noun
  • The long timeline will require resident relocation, which has stirred concerns among Golden Gate residents about possible permanent displacement.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The district will continue following the relocation procedures that have been in place this week, district spokeswoman Cheesa Williams said Friday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of relocation

Phrases Containing motion

Browse Nearby Words

motility
motion
motioned
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Cite this Entry

“Motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motion. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on motion

Nglish: Translation of motion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motion

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