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

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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
In an 80-page ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court found that Carliz De La Cruz Hernández can move forward with her claim that the recording’s use violated her right to protect her identity from commercial exploitation. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026 If Norway set up to challenge England for possession, Bobb and Schjelderup could come in, but Nusa will take some moving from the left, given his star quality. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Noun
This move effectively imposed a 17% antidumping duty on most tomato imports. — Elizabeth Canales, The Conversation, 16 July 2026 On Wednesday, Cornelius Mayor Pro Tem Michael Osborne announced his municipality will make a similar move. — Dj Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 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
  • In Ningde in Fujian province, more than 3,700 people were relocated from high-risk onshore areas as of Friday evening, Xinhua said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Shanghai, also on China’s eastern coast, relocated around 34,000 residents from high-risk areas by Saturday noon, according to Xinhua.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of relocate
Verb
  • The latest in Houston Salgado Araujo, 52, was driving to work with three other construction crew members when unmarked vehicles carrying federal agents began following his van, his family said.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • When Fumi takes a job at Rin’s clinic planning to expose its darker side, their standoff drives the series, with the story more interested in what pushes people toward transformation than in the surgeries themselves.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 July 2026
Definition of drive
Verb
  • Here is another example in the opening 45 minutes, where Brazil’s midfield is shifted over to the near side to condense the space around Morocco.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • The Facebook page shifted to a private setting to create a more intimate space.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of shift
Verb
  • Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2026
  • On Monday, another massive blackout affected nearly 10 million people nationwide.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of affect
Verb
  • They are accused of encouraging dissent against the regime and were convicted of broad charges of corruption, CNN’s Isobel Yeung reports.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • The Overland Park exhibition invited Black artists from across the Kansas City area to present work that reflected their identities, encouraging each artist to define themselves on their own terms.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
Definition of encourage
Verb
  • Four lobbyists who persuaded their clients to pay tour expenses, but did not report them, now face misdemeanor violations of the gift ban.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
  • Numbers like that are persuading brands to start treating in-game ads and product placements as a serious channel rather than a spare-budget experiment.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of persuade
Verb
  • The company told deputies that someone at the Sheriff's Office or a Flock employee could have reactivated the feature, or that a system bug could have automatically activated it.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Press down on the trigger lock switch before squeezing the trigger to activate the blade.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of activate
Verb
  • But with many of the bosses atop those agencies exiting, a new concern over what that may mean is starting.
    — Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • The path for a startup to exit and provide returns to investors is narrowing at the same time, according to Magnitt.
    — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of exit

Phrases Containing move

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Cite this Entry

“Move.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/move. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of move for Spanish Speakers

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