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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
In the 250 years since Newton introduced his famous laws of motion, physicists had come to believe their equations described a reality that was entirely independent of human action or interpretation. — Adam Frank, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026 At that time, astronomers began to suspect that, much like Neptune's discovery based on irregularities in the motion of Uranus, evidence of even more distant planets might begin to surface through similar observations. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
After listening for several seconds, Gulbeyan motioned for arena security. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Faragna motioned to Nardulli to step to one side and spoke into his ear with circumspection. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 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
  • There’s been little movement on the key Democratic demand, an ethics component governing the president and his family, according to two Democratic aides.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • That headroom is not vast, which is why any January incomings likely require offsetting by movement outwards.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of movement
Verb
  • Beyoncé, who wore a cozy hoodie for the outing, also blew kisses to the crowd and waved to fans as Jay-Z sang to her.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Fans are also shown waving the flag of the Philippines, an overhead shot of Eala’s black Chanel handbag and the WTA player posing in distressed jeans and a tangerine-colored open-back top.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of wave
Noun
  • The potential shifting of styles is no problem for Velasquez, who has danced under Cunningham and Binda and their successors Seiwert and Krutzkamp in her time in Sacramento.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In part, this shifting of possession is forced by Brighton, whose out-of-possession approach is much more aggressive.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of shifting
Verb
  • The gallery watched with rapt attention as Reddington gestured wildly, slammed his hand down and threw a stack of papers onto the bench.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Trump gestured to new sod that had been laid around the helipad.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of gesture
Noun
  • The move comes at the start of the Fed's two-day policy meeting, with markets pricing in higher chances of a quarter-point rate hike when the meeting concludes Wednesday after August inflation remained well above the central bank's 2% target.
    — Lee Ying Shan,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • If the Academy makes the move, the Emmys would be the second major entertainment business awards show to move to streaming.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of move
Verb
  • Acquiring a big-time defensive player was an uncharacteristic move for Cincy, signaling a focus and emphasis on winning now.
    — Adam Coleman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% combines several signaling peptides designed to address fine lines, firmness, elasticity, and texture from multiple angles.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of signal
Noun
  • The July hack by rogue OpenAI autonomous agents on open-source developer platform Hugging Face accelerated the shift and proved that the era of advanced AI hacks had arrived.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Research has shown that long hours, additional shifts, and overlapping work tasks can shorten a project’s timeline—but only to a point.
    — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of shift
Noun
  • The 14-page document sets up a competition that may look something like a major corporate relocation, with states pitching packages of free land, university partnerships, state funding, and more to lure the federal government to choose their state.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sheeran later clarified that the relocation was only temporary.
    — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on motion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motion

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