move 1 of 2

verb

ˈmüv How to pronounce move (audio)
Definition of movenext
1
as in to relocate
to change the place or position of I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to drive
to set or keep in motion the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shift
to change one's position don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to encourage
to rouse to strong feeling or action the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to persuade
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests the report moved me to change my mind about the issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to activate
to cause to function this one button moves the whole machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to exit
to leave a place often for another the police officer told the loiterers to move along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

move

2 of 2

noun

1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result retiring early was a smart move

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position don't make a move

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb move differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of move are actuate, drive, and impel. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

In what contexts can actuate take the place of move?

The words actuate and move can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When might drive be a better fit than move?

While in some cases nearly identical to move, drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

Where would impel be a reasonable alternative to move?

The synonyms impel and move are sometimes interchangeable, but impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

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 move
Verb
Zekaj had repeatedly complained of violence from her husband and had moved away to live with her parents while asking for protection. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 With Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, Wade said, the duo have to move beyond who was in place first. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
Other red states, like Texas and Missouri, made similar moves. — Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026 Matt might be able to pull a similar move and establish himself as bosun — Joe Bradley, watch and weep — if Alex doesn’t get his ass up and work. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for move
Recent Examples of Synonyms for move
  1. relocate
  2. drive
  3. shift
  4. affect
  5. encourage
  6. persuade
  7. activate
  8. exit
Verb
  • Recent openings include relocating its Milan flagship from the tourist-heavy Via Montenapoleone to the more local Via Gesù, as well as a 91-square-meter boutique in Shenzhen, China.
    — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
  • After that, all outdoor activities at the back of the school were temporarily relocated, Superintendent Mark Foust said in a letter to parents on Thursday.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of relocate
Verb
  • Guzman has an April 2009 conviction of driving drunk and causing injury to another person in Sacramento County, according to the complaint.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The pre-Election Day surge was driven mainly by in-person voting.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • The music as a whole seems to reflect all of this moment-to-moment action at a larger structural level, shifting from one overlapping movement to the next according to the same fractal geometry that governs the beat.
    — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
  • His Iowa appearance was moved from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids, only for plans to shift back to Dubuque hours later, according to a person familiar with the planning who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of shift
Verb
  • The initiative targets the submarine’s internal configuration, where even minor design changes can affect the vessel’s overall balance.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Allegations come after CalHR rejected proposals that would affect the state’s budget.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • Though the board does not have the authority to forgive the charges, which will still be due by the end of the year, board President Allan Marks encouraged residents to enroll in programs that could help alleviate rising costs.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • According to Ueda, an enthusiastic online response encouraged its adaptation to feature length and a theatrical release.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • And Michael was obviously the most on my case, and there was no persuading him otherwise.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026
  • In 2020, Ben Motal aptly persuaded the Court of Appeals that the FOIA's right to copy records includes photographing them, after Little Rock incredibly barred him from snapping a picture of an accident report.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • The button can also be set to mute calls or use alternate recording modes like slow motion and hyperlapse, which otherwise need to be activated with voice commands.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026
  • That means having specific shades and specific products according to consumer needs across regions, as well as how the Sephora Collection brands are activated.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • Drivers will exit using the left lanes, while the two center lanes continue to the westbound Dolphin Expressway, and the right lane heads to northbound I-95.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Dry and cool week ahead After the rain exits Tuesday, North Texas will be dry and cool.
    — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of exit

Phrases Containing move

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move
moved
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Cite this Entry

“Move.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/move. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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