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
The judge denied the motion but instructed jurors to dismiss the comments and sent them home early. — Nbc News, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 In a separate July 15 order, Gilstrap granted part of Linctex’s motion for summary judgment of noninfringement. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
After lunging for the ball, Sonnett fell to the ground, grabbed her left knee and motioned to Gotham’s bench for medical assistance. — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 31 July 2026 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 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
  • The crowd points their phones at the pair, who are alternating between short dances, rhythmic movements, and striking poses.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • What once seemed like isolated restorations have become part of a broader movement driven by distributors, programmers, archives, and exhibitors committed to expanding what American audiences understand as the Asian cinema canon.
    — José Salazar, IndieWire, 24 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
  • Diamondbacks pitching coach Brian Kaplan also grew animated and seemed to gesture toward Berry in the coach’s box.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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
  • New Florida women’s soccer coach Nick Zimmerman wasted little time signaling better days are ahead — much sooner than anyone expected.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Home-plate umpire Will Little gathered the game’s three other umpires near the first-base line to discuss whether Espada signaled toward the bullpen before sprinting to the mound.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 23 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 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on motion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motion

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