Definition of movenext
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move

2 of 2

noun

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
Come early to regroup between screenings; come back when the festival moves from premieres to nightcaps. Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026 After 9/11, friends asked William what made his father break his promise to Doremus to meet her at his studio and, instead, keep moving deeper into hell. Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
Our narrow wooden canoe moves slowly across the river, propelled by a small outboard motor. Sebastián López Brach, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026 Going deeper Fortune's Eleanor Pringle reports that debt hawks are increasingly alarmed as the 10-year Treasury yield approaches 5%, warning the move could signal a brewing national debt spiral. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for move
Recent Examples of Synonyms for move
Verb
  • The mudslide hit part of a village in Suichuan County in Jiangxi province in the early hours, prompting rescuers to rush to the scene and relocate residents to safer ground to prevent further danger, authorities said in a statement.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Harry and Meghan relocated to California in 2020 after stepping back as working members of the royal family.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Maybe real New Yorkers do drive, because this is some serious New York behavior.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Yet the deepest human transformations operate on a different layer of architecture—driven by adaptive, systemic processes that our analytical minds can’t fully dictate.
    Patrick Murphy, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • As rehearsals move forward, Eisenberg repeats key scenes in the play and shoots them differently each time, his camera coming to represent Mona’s shifting perspective.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Sabra Gossett, a curator for the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum, said the choice to shift to Florida for missile launches came after issues with one launch out of New Mexico.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Your attention to detail isn’t excessive when the numbers affect your security.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Alcohol can also affect hormone levels, including estrogen, which can lead to breast cancer.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Bunch said that one of his goals in the head role was to encourage Americans to embrace ambiguity and recognize that America is a complicated, multifaceted nation.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The stated purpose would be to encourage more people to fill out the forms without fear of having their privacy violated.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Colbert’s horse was persuaded to piaffe—to trot in place, knees up, in a way that’s required in advanced dressage competitions.
    Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • In complex markets, buyers are rarely persuaded by product claims alone.
    Saul Marquez, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers therefore began exploring partial reprogramming, briefly activating the Yamanaka factors in ways that appear to rejuvenate cells while maintaining their specialized identities.
    Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
  • If the vehicle has no power and the window remains fully raised, Tesla warns the glass could shatter when someone activates the release.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Like Portillo, who ended up selling to a private equity firm, Smith brought in a sponsor, Vestar Capital Partners, to scale the business and later exited to Flowers Foods for $795 million in January 2025.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But Balogun has entered his prime and shouldn’t exit it anytime soon.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Move.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/move. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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