Added 8 October 2026
move
/muːv/ verb
In Latin: moveo Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about move at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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To change place or posture; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another.
A ship moves rapidly.
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To act; to take action; to begin to act
to move in a matter
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To change residence, for example from one house, town, or state, to another; to go and live at another place; similarly to change the location of another establishment such as a business. See also move out and move in.
I decided to move to the country for a more peaceful life.
noun
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The act of moving; a movement.
A slight move of the tiller, and the boat will go off course.
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An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose.
He made another move towards becoming a naturalized citizen.
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A formalized or practiced action used in athletics, dance, physical exercise, self-defense, hand-to-hand combat, etc.
She always gets spontaneous applause for that one move.
Origin
From Middle English moven, moeven, meven, borrowed from Old Northern French mover, moveir and Old French mouver, moveir (“to move”) (compare modern French mouvoir from Old French movoir), from Latin movēre (“move; change, exchange, go in or out, quit”), from Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- (“to move, drive”). Cognate with Lithuanian mauti (“to push on, rush”), Sanskrit मीवति (mī́vati, “pushes, presses, moves”), Middle Dutch mouwe (“sleeve”). Largely displaced native English stir, from Middle English stiren, sturien, from Old English styrian. See also Old English hrēran.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)