- Do you ever wonder if you’re using “move” like a native speaker, or just “making a move” in the dark?
- Have you ever felt unsure whether to say “do a move” or “make a move”?
- Are you ready to move beyond basic vocabulary and move towards truly fluent English?
Understanding English collocations isn’t just about knowing individual words; it’s about knowing which words naturally go together. Mastering collocations with “move” will significantly enhance your fluency, making your English sound more natural, precise, and sophisticated. It’s time to stop translating word-for-word and start thinking like a native speaker!
Common Collocations with MOVE as a Verb
As a verb, “move” means to change position, to cause something to change position, to take action, or to affect someone emotionally. Its versatility makes it a core component of many essential collocations.
Physical Movement & Relocation
These collocations describe literal changes in position or location.
- move quickly / move slowly: To change position at a particular speed.
The queue started to move quickly once the second cashier opened.
Traffic was moving slowly due to the heavy rain.
- move forward / move backward: To go in a specific direction.
Please move forward to the next available counter.
The car started to move backward down the hill.
- move aside: To step to one side to make room for someone or something.
Could you please move aside so I can get through?
- move house: (UK English) To leave one house and go to live in another. (US English often uses “move to a new house” or “move homes”)
We’re planning to move house next summer.
- move into / move out of: To start or stop living in a place.
They just moved into a beautiful apartment downtown.
I need to move out of my current flat by the end of the month.
- move a muscle / move a finger: To make even a slight physical movement. Often used in negative contexts.
He was so tired he couldn’t even move a muscle.
Don’t move a finger until I tell you.
Progress & Action
These phrases often refer to making progress, taking initiative, or changing plans.
- move on: To continue to a different subject, place, or stage; to recover from an emotional difficulty.
Let’s move on to the next item on the agenda.
It’s time for her to move on and find a new job.
- move up the ladder: To advance in one’s career or social status.
He worked hard to move up the ladder in the company.
- move the discussion forward: To make progress in a conversation or negotiation.
We need to find a way to move the discussion forward and reach a decision.
- move a meeting / move a deadline: To change the scheduled time of an event.
Can we move the meeting to Friday instead of Thursday?
The client asked us to move the deadline back by a week.
- move with the times: To adapt to modern changes and advancements.
Businesses that don’t move with the times risk being left behind.
Emotional Impact
When “move” connects to feelings, it signifies a strong emotional response.
- move someone to tears: To make someone cry.
The documentary about the refugees moved me to tears.
- move someone deeply: To affect someone’s emotions in a profound way.
Her story of survival moved everyone deeply.
Essential Collocations using MOVE as a Noun
As a noun, “move” refers to an act of moving, a step taken to achieve something, or a change of residence.
Actions & Tactics
These collocations describe actions, strategies, or decisions.
- make a move: To take action, often implying initiative or a strategic decision; also to leave a place.
It’s time for us to make a move and start our own business.
We should probably make a move; it’s getting late.
- a smart move / a clever move: A wise or intelligent action.
Investing in renewable energy was a smart move for the company.
- a strategic move: An action planned carefully to achieve a specific goal.
The acquisition of the smaller firm was a strategic move to expand market share.
- a desperate move: An action taken out of desperation when other options have failed.
Cutting prices drastically was a desperate move to save the business.
- a power move: An action intended to assert dominance or control.
Refusing to negotiate was seen as a power move by the CEO.
- watch someone’s every move: To observe someone very carefully, often with suspicion.
The security guard was told to watch his every move.
Changes & Progress
These collocations focus on shifts, developments, or new phases.
- a career move: A change in one’s job or profession, usually for advancement.
Leaving his old company was a bold career move, but it paid off.
- a big move / a difficult move: A significant or challenging change of residence.
Moving across the country was a big move for the whole family.
Organizing everything for the relocation was a difficult move.
- the next move: The subsequent action or step in a sequence.
After their announcement, everyone wondered what their next move would be.
Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| move house | Verb | Change residence (UK) |
| move on | Verb | Progress; recover emotionally |
| move up the ladder | Verb | Advance in career |
| move someone to tears | Verb | Make someone cry |
| move a meeting | Verb | Change a meeting’s time |
| make a move | Noun (as part of phrase) | Take action; leave a place |
| a smart move | Noun (as part of phrase) | A wise action/decision |
| a career move | Noun (as part of phrase) | A job change for advancement |
| the next move | Noun (as part of phrase) | The subsequent action |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Many learners make common errors when trying to use “move.” Here’s how to sound more natural.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Do a move (to leave) | Make a move (to leave) |
| Go to a new house | Move house / Move to a new house |
| Move the time of the meeting | Move a meeting / Change the time of a meeting |
| He moved me very much | He moved me deeply / He moved me to tears |
| Make a progress (with move) | Move forward / Make progress (without ‘move’) |
“Our team has been working tirelessly, and I’m pleased to announce that we’re starting to move the discussion forward on the new project. We’ve decided to move the deadline for the initial proposal to next Friday, giving everyone a bit more time. This is a strategic move, allowing us to incorporate feedback from the recent market analysis. Ultimately, we want to ensure we move with the times and make a product that genuinely resonates. After this, we’ll need to make a move quickly on development.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Move Collocations
What’s the difference between “move house” and “move to a new house”?
Both phrases refer to changing your residence. “Move house” is a very common idiom in British English. “Move to a new house” is more frequently used in American English, and also perfectly acceptable and understood in British English. You can also simply say “move” without a specified destination if the context is clear, e.g., “We’re planning to move next month.”
Can “move” be used for emotional impact, and how?
Yes, absolutely! As a verb, “move” can describe a strong emotional effect. Common collocations include “move someone to tears” (to make someone cry) or “move someone deeply” (to affect their emotions profoundly). For example, “The beautiful music moved her to tears.” or “His heartfelt speech moved everyone deeply.”
Are there specific prepositions commonly used with “move”?
Yes, “move” frequently combines with prepositions to specify direction or location. Some common ones include: “move into” (a place), “move out of” (a place), “move to” (a destination), “move towards” (a direction), “move across” (a surface), “move along” (to proceed), and “move on” (to continue/progress or recover). For instance, “She decided to move to London,” or “Let’s move on to the next topic.”
What are some business or career-related collocations with “move”?
In business contexts, “move” is very useful. You might hear “make a smart move” (a wise decision), “a strategic move” (a planned action), “a career move” (a change of job for advancement), “move up the ladder” (to get promoted), or “move the discussion forward” (to make progress in talks). For example, “Taking that online course was a smart career move.”
Is “make a move” always about physical action?
No, “make a move” is a versatile collocation. While it can mean to start moving physically (e.g., “We should make a move if we want to get there on time”), it often refers to taking initiative or action in a strategic sense (e.g., “The company needs to make a move on diversifying its investments”). It can also imply a romantic approach (e.g., “He tried to make a move on her”). The meaning depends heavily on the context.
I'm curious about the difference between 'move forward' in a physical sense vs. a metaphorical sense (like 'move forward with a plan'). Is it the same 'move' or a different usage?
That's a fantastic distinction to highlight, Omar! It's indeed the same versatile verb 'move,' but its application extends from literal physical motion to abstract progression. 'Move forward' physically means to advance in space, while 'move forward with a plan' means to make progress or proceed with an initiative. Both use the core idea of advancement, showcasing 'move's' incredible adaptability in English. Great insight!
Are there specific prepositions that often collocate with 'move'? Like 'move on to,' 'move into,' 'move out of'?
Excellent observation, Fatma! You're absolutely right. 'Move' frequently forms phrasal verbs or collocations with prepositions that specify direction or state. 'Move on to' (start a new topic), 'move into' (enter a new place or phase), and 'move out of' (leave a place) are perfect examples. These add another layer of complexity and precision to 'move.' We'll consider a future article on phrasal verbs with 'move'!
This is great. It's so frustrating when I know the words but they just don't 'feel' right together. Collocations are tough, but articles like this make it easier.
We totally understand that frustration, Li! That 'feeling' of words not fitting is exactly what collocations address. The more you expose yourself to natural English, the stronger that 'feeling' will become. Keep reading, listening, and actively noticing these patterns!
So, if I want to say 'change position,' is 'move' always better than 'change position'? Or does it depend on the context?
That's a nuanced point, Giovanni! 'Move' is often a more concise and natural way to express 'change position' in everyday English. For example, 'Please move your chair.' 'Change position' might sound a bit more formal or technical, as in 'The satellite changed its orbital position.' While they can sometimes be interchangeable, 'move' is usually preferred for simplicity and natural flow. It definitely depends on the context and desired formality!
I teach English to young adults, and this would be a fantastic warm-up activity! I can ask them to come up with sentences using 'move quickly/slowly' and 'move forward/backward.' Thanks for the inspiration!
That's a brilliant idea, Aisha! Engaging students with practical sentence construction using collocations is a highly effective teaching method. We're so pleased this article can serve as inspiration for your classroom activities. Happy teaching!
This article helped me clarify a lot. I used to say 'make fast movements' instead of 'move quickly.' Small changes make a big difference in sounding fluent.
You've hit on a crucial point, David! It's these seemingly small changes that polish your English and make it sound authentic. Recognizing natural collocations is a testament to your growing fluency. Keep paying attention to those details!
What about idioms with 'move'? Like 'get a move on' or 'on the move'? Do these also fall under collocations, or are they separate?
That's an excellent question, Priya! 'Get a move on' and 'on the move' are indeed idioms that use the word 'move.' While collocations are about words that naturally go together (like 'move quickly'), idioms are fixed phrases where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words. However, learning idioms is another crucial step towards sounding native, much like mastering collocations. They are related in their contribution to fluency! We might cover 'move' idioms in a future post!
Great content! I'm an intermediate learner, and I appreciate how you explain why collocations are important for sounding natural. This is a practical guide.
Thank you, Kenji! We're delighted to know you find it practical. Our aim is to provide actionable insights that genuinely help learners sound more like native speakers. Your journey to fluency is a marathon, and we're here to support every step!
This article is very clear and concise! I've been learning English for years, and collocations are still a challenge. I always try to translate literally from Spanish, and that rarely works out!
We understand that struggle, Sofia! Literal translation is a common pitfall. The key with collocations is to learn them as chunks, not individual words. Over time, you'll start to 'feel' which words fit naturally together, moving away from word-for-word translation. Keep at it!
I never thought about 'move' being able to affect someone emotionally! Could you give an example of that usage? I'm trying to expand my advanced vocabulary.
Absolutely, Elena! When 'move' affects someone emotionally, it often means to evoke strong feelings, typically of sadness, pity, or compassion. For example: 'The speech deeply moved the audience,' or 'Her story of perseverance moved me to tears.' It's a beautiful way to express profound impact. Excellent goal to expand your advanced vocabulary!