Moving — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈmü-viŋ/ mov·ing

Meaning & Definition of Moving

Moving (adjective)

  1. marked by or capable of movement
  2. of or relating to a change of residence
  3. used for transferring furnishings from one residence to another

Moving (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies

    "he gave a truly moving graduation speech that had some graduates in tears"

    similar: affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, poignant, stirring, touching
    related: eloquent, expressive, meaningful, significant, demonstrative, excitable, feeling, passionate, responsive, sensitive, exciting, inspirational, provoking, rousing, stimulating, dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, theatrical, cathartic
    opposite: unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive
    near: cold, cool, detached, dispassionate, emotionless, deadpan

Moving (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to change the place or position of

    "I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here"

    similar: budging, dislocating, displacing, disturbing, relocating, removing, repositioning, shifting, transferring, transposing
    related: bearing, carrying, carting, conveying, driving, hauling, lugging, toting, transmitting, transplanting, transporting, replacing, superseding, supplanting, altering, making over, modifying, redoing, refashioning, remaking, remodeling, revamping, revising, reworking, varying
    near: anchoring, fixing, freezing, mooring, securing, setting, stabilizing, embedding, entrenching, implanting, ingraining, lodging, rooting

  2. to set or keep in motion

    "the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery"

    similar: actuating, driving, impelling, propelling, working
    related: activating, motivating, provoking, abetting, fermenting, fomenting, inciting, raising, stirring (up), whipping (up), setting off, triggering, tripping, arousing, exciting, firing (up), galvanizing, inflaming, inspiring, instigating, rousing, stimulating
    near: bridling, checking, constraining, containing, controlling, curbing, inhibiting, regulating, reining (in), restraining

  3. to change one's position

    "don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait"

    similar: budging, locomoting, shifting, stirring
    related: fiddling, fidgeting, jiggling, squiggling, squirming, tossing, twitching, wiggling, wriggling, writhing, rousing
    opposite: freezing, stilling
    near: hanging around, remaining, staying, sticking around, tarrying, stabilizing

  4. 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"

    similar: affecting, impacting, impressing, influencing, reaching, striking, swaying, telling (on), touching, getting to
    related: carrying away, dazzling, enrapturing, enthralling, entrancing, ravishing, transporting, biasing, coloring, inspiring, stirring, engaging, interesting, involving, penetrating, piercing, afflicting, agitating, bothering, concerning, discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, flustering, harassing, harrying, perturbing, pestering, plaguing, smiting, straining, stressing, troubling, trying, upsetting, worrying, wringing, alluring, attracting, bewitching, captivating, charming, enchanting, fascinating
    near: boring, jading, palling, tiring, wearying, underwhelming

  5. to rouse to strong feeling or action

    "the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously"

    similar: arousing, encouraging, exciting, firing (up), impassioning, inciting, instigating, piquing, provoking, revving (up), sparking, stimulating, stirring, building a fire under
    related: fanning, igniting, inflaming, kindling, triggering, activating, animating, driving, energizing, galvanizing, inducing, inspiring, keying (up), motivating, motiving, pumping up, quickening, setting off, vitalizing, abetting, fermenting, fomenting, raising, whipping (up), angering, enraging, maddening, upsetting, jeering, taunting, teasing, aggravating, annoying, bothering, exasperating, galling, getting, irritating, vexing
    near: calming, soothing, subduing, tranquilizing, appeasing, mollifying, pacifying, placating

  6. 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"

    similar: arguing, bringing, bringing around, converting, convincing, gaining, getting, inducing, persuading, prevailing (on or upon), satisfying, talking (into), winning (over)
    related: blandishing, blarneying, cajoling, coaxing, entreating, exhorting, fast-talking, urging, wheedling, alluring, beguiling, leading on, luring, seducing, snowing, tempting, brainwashing, overpersuading, inclining, influencing, prompting, selling, swaying, attracting, drawing, enticing, interesting, chewing over, conversing, debating, discussing, disputing, hashing (over), mooting, reasoning (with)
    near: deterring, discouraging, dissuading, unselling

  7. to cause to function

    "this one button moves the whole machine"

    similar: activating, actuating, cranking (up), driving, running, setting off, sparking, starting, touching off, triggering, turning on
    related: kicking over, turning over, charging, electrifying, energizing, firing, fueling, generating, powering, pushing, discharging, launching, releasing, switching, tripping, reactivating, recharging, arousing, exciting, jump-starting, kick-starting, stimulating, vitalizing, igniting, inciting, instigating, provoking, quickening, stirring up, accelerating, catalyzing, speeding (up), stepping up
    opposite: cutting, cutting out, deactivating, killing, shutting off, turning off
    near: arresting, braking, checking, cutting off, drawing up, halting, jamming, stalling, sticking, stopping, decelerating, repressing, slowing, stunting, suppressing

  8. to leave a place often for another

    "the police officer told the loiterers to move along"

    similar: bailing, bailing out, booking (slang), buggering off (British slang), bugging off, bugging out, buzzing (off), clearing off (chiefly British), clearing out, cutting out, departing, digging out, exiting, getting, getting off, going, going off, packing (up or off), parting, peeling off, piking (out or off), pulling out, pushing off, pushing on, quitting, running along, sallying (forth), scarpering (British), shoving (off), stepping (along), taking off, vamoosing, walking out, beating it, hitting the road, pulling stakes, taking a hike, taking a powder
    related: setting out, starting, striking out, absconding, decamping, escaping, evacuating, fleeing, flying, getting out, mizzling (chiefly British), running away, scatting, scramming, skipping, going out, lighting out, stepping out, abandoning, deserting, forsaking, vacating, emigrating, adjourning, removing, retiring, retreating, withdrawing
    opposite: arriving, coming, showing up, turning up
    near: abiding, dwelling, lodging, remaining, settling, staying, tarrying, approaching, closing, nearing, hitting, landing, reaching

Related Entry: Move (verb)

Move is a different word from Moving. The synonyms below are for move, not for moving.

  1. to change the place or position of

    "I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here"

    similar: budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, relocate, remove, reposition, shift, transfer, transpose
    related: bear, carry, cart, convey, drive, haul, lug, tote, transmit, transplant, transport, replace, supersede, supplant, alter, make over, modify, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary
    near: anchor, fix, freeze, moor, secure, set, stabilize, embed, entrench, implant, ingrain, lodge, root

  2. to set or keep in motion

    "the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery"

    similar: actuate, drive, impel, propel, work
    related: activate, motivate, provoke, abet, ferment, foment, incite, raise, stir (up), whip (up), set off, trigger, trip, arouse, excite, fire (up), galvanize, inflame, inspire, instigate, rouse, stimulate
    near: bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain

  3. to change one's position

    "don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait"

    similar: budge, locomote, shift, stir
    related: fiddle, fidget, jiggle, squiggle, squirm, toss, twitch, wiggle, wriggle, writhe, rouse
    opposite: freeze, still
    near: hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry, stabilize

  4. 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"

    similar: affect, impact, impress, influence, reach, strike, sway, tell (on), touch, get to
    related: carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall, ravish, transport, bias, color, inspire, stir, engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce, afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring, allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, underwhelm

  5. to rouse to strong feeling or action

    "the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously"

    similar: arouse, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, pique, provoke, rev (up), spark, stimulate, stir, build a fire under
    related: fan, ignite, inflame, kindle, trigger, activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motivate, motive, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize, abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up), anger, enrage, madden, upset, jeer, taunt, tease, aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vex
    near: calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize, appease, mollify, pacify, placate

  6. 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"

    similar: argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

  7. to cause to function

    "this one button moves the whole machine"

    similar: activate, actuate, crank (up), drive, run, set off, spark, start, touch off, trigger, turn on
    related: kick over, turn over, charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push, discharge, launch, release, switch, trip, reactivate, recharge, arouse, excite, jump-start, kick-start, stimulate, vitalize, ignite, incite, instigate, provoke, quicken, stir up, accelerate, catalyze, speed (up), step up
    opposite: cut, cut out, deactivate, kill, shut off, turn off
    near: arrest, brake, check, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick, stop, decelerate, repress, slow, stunt, suppress

  8. to leave a place often for another

    "the police officer told the loiterers to move along"

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bug off, bug out, bugger off (British slang), buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, go off, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out, beat it, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

Related Entry: Moving picture (noun)

Moving picture is a different word from Moving. The synonyms below are for moving picture, not for moving.

  1. a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track

    "in the 20th century moving pictures became an important form of artistic expression"

    similar: film, flick, flicker, motion picture, movie, picture
    related: animated cartoon, cartoon, docudrama, documentary, feature, featurette, short, short subject, silent, talkie, B movie, B picture, cofeature

Related Entry: Moving (to) (verb)

Moving (to) is a different word from Moving. The synonyms below are for moving (to), not for moving.

  1. as in relocating (to)

    similar: relocating (to), inhabiting, colonizing, peopling, populating, settling
    opposite: depopulating, unpeopling

Related Entry: Moving pictures (noun)

Moving pictures is a different word from Moving. The synonyms below are for moving pictures, not for moving.

  1. a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track

    "in the 20th century moving pictures became an important form of artistic expression"

    similar: films, flickers, flicks, motion pictures, movies, pictures
    related: animated cartoons, cartoons, docudramas, documentaries, features, featurettes, shorts, short subjects, silents, talkies, B movies, B pictures, cofeatures

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Moving

The most common words with a similar meaning to Moving:

Slang: booking
British slang: buggering off
Chiefly British: clearing off
British: scarpering
affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, poignant, stirring, touching, budging, dislocating, displacing, disturbing, relocating, removing, repositioning, shifting, transferring, transposing, actuating, driving, impelling, propelling, working, locomoting, impacting, impressing, influencing, reaching, striking, swaying, telling (on), arousing, encouraging, exciting, firing (up), impassioning, inciting, instigating, piquing, provoking, revving (up)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Moving

Words with the opposite meaning of Moving:

unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive, freezing, stilling, cutting, cutting out, deactivating, killing, shutting off, turning off, arriving, coming, showing up, turning up

Related Words for Moving

eloquent, expressive, meaningful, significant, demonstrative, excitable, feeling, passionate, responsive, sensitive, inspirational, rousing, dramatic, histrionic, melodramatic, theatrical, cathartic, bearing, carrying, carting, conveying, hauling, lugging, toting, transmitting, transplanting, transporting, replacing, superseding, supplanting

Near Antonyms of Moving

cold, cool, detached, dispassionate, emotionless, deadpan, anchoring, fixing, mooring, securing, setting, stabilizing, embedding, entrenching, implanting, ingraining, lodging, rooting, bridling, checking, constraining, containing, controlling, curbing, inhibiting, regulating, reining (in), restraining, hanging around, remaining

Word Forms of Moving

Derived words: movingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Moving

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Moving

Words & Phrases Containing Moving

moving picture, moving force/spirit, moving staircase, moving van, moving violation, get moving

Frequently Asked Questions about Moving

What does "Moving" mean?

"Moving" means marked by or capable of movement. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: marked by or capable of movement. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Moving"?

Other words for "Moving" include affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, poignant, stirring, touching and budging. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Moving" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Moving"?

There are 306 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Moving". Common alternatives include affecting, emotional, impactful, impressive, poignant, stirring, touching, budging, dislocating and displacing.

What is the opposite of "Moving"?

Antonyms of "Moving" include unaffecting, unemotional, unimpressive, freezing, stilling, cutting, cutting out and deactivating. Near antonyms include cold, cool, detached and dispassionate.

How do you use "Moving" in a sentence?

Examples of "Moving" in a sentence: "he gave a truly moving graduation speech that had some graduates in tears"; "I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here"; "the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery".

Is "Moving" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Moving" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Moving" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Moving" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Moving"?

"Moving" is pronounced /ˈmü-viŋ/ and divided into syllables as mov·ing.