march
march — noun
1. a planned public event where many people move together along city streets to sho
a planned public event where many people move together along city streets to show support for or opposition toward a cause
Over fifty thousand people joined the march for climate action in Taipei last Saturday.
march for + cause
The students organized a march to demand better safety conditions at their school.
organize a march
Nellie and her neighbours held a march through the city centre on Labour Day.
A peaceful march is one way citizens can make their voices heard by the government.
peaceful march
The police watched from the sidewalks as the march moved toward the parliament building.
- join a march
- organize a march
- hold a march
- peaceful march
- protest march
- march for/against
- demonstration
emphasises the act of showing public feeling; 'march' always involves walking, while a 'demonstration' can also be stationary
- protest
broader term for any act of objection; a march is a specific type of protest
- parade
a parade is celebratory, while a march is usually political or expressing disapproval
Grammar Patterns
a march + for/against + cause
a march + through/across + place
organize/join/hold + a march
Common Mistakes
2. a musical work that has a forceful, regular rhythm and is designed so that peopl
a musical work that has a forceful, regular rhythm and is designed so that people can walk in time with it, commonly used by bands during parades and ceremonies
The band played a lively march as the parade moved down Main Street.
play a march
Lucas whistles old military marches while he works in the garden at his parents' house.
military march
The orchestra ended the concert with a famous march by the composer John Philip Sousa.
A wedding march begins to play, and the bride walks slowly down the aisle.
wedding march
- play a march
- compose a march
- military march
- wedding march
- funeral march
- processional
specifically for ceremonies like weddings or graduations; 'march' is a broader category
Grammar Patterns
play + a march
a march + by + composer
military/wedding/funeral + march
Usage Note
Often modified by type: 'military march', 'wedding march', 'funeral march'. The most famous wedding march is by Mendelssohn; the most famous funeral march is by Chopin.
3. a journey made by walking with regular, even steps, especially by soldiers movin
a journey made by walking with regular, even steps, especially by soldiers moving together as a group
The soldiers began their long march at sunrise, carrying heavy packs on their backs.
long march
After a twenty-kilometre march, the troops were finally allowed to rest for an hour.
distance + march
Nikos could hear the steady march of boots echoing through the mountain valley.
The commanding officer inspected every unit during the march across the training ground.
A forced march through the desert left many of the new recruits exhausted and thirsty.
forced march
- long march
- forced march
- day's march
- begin a march
- march of + distance
- route march
a specific type of military exercise march; a specialised term
Grammar Patterns
a + distance + march
a long/forced + march
on a/the march
Usage Note
A 'forced march' is a long, fast march that pushes soldiers to their physical limit. A 'day's march' is the distance normally covered in one day of marching.
Common Mistakes
4. moving or travelling as a group with regular steps, especially used of soldiers
moving or travelling as a group with regular steps, especially used of soldiers who have started a journey to a particular place
The army has been on the march for three days, heading toward the border crossing.
on the march — army moving
With the enemy on the march, the villagers gathered their belongings and fled to safety.
The regiment was on the march and would reach the capital by dawn.
The scouts reported that the entire division was on the march through the mountain pass.
- on the march
Grammar Patterns
on the march
Usage Note
This sense is only used in the fixed phrase 'on the march'. Do not confuse it with noun sense 5 ('on the march' meaning spreading/growing), which uses the same phrase but refers to ideas or movements, not soldiers.
Common Mistakes
5. growing rapidly in popularity, influence, or geographical reach; becoming very s
growing rapidly in popularity, influence, or geographical reach; becoming very successful across an area or within a society
Renewable energy is on the march, with solar panels appearing on rooftops everywhere.
on the march — spreading/growing
Electric vehicles are on the march, and charging stations are being built across the country.
Digital education tools were on the march years before the pandemic.
Shirin believes that gender equality is finally on the march in her home country.
- on the march
- gaining ground
less formal; suggests increasing acceptance rather than rapid spread
- on the rise
broader in meaning; can apply to prices, numbers, or popularity without the sense of active forward movement
- fading
suggests losing influence or popularity
Grammar Patterns
on the march
Usage Note
Uses the same fixed phrase 'on the march' as sense 4, but applies to abstract movements, technologies, ideas, or social trends rather than soldiers. The subject is nearly always non-human.
Common Mistakes
6. the steady, unstoppable forward movement or development of something, especially
the steady, unstoppable forward movement or development of something, especially time, history, technology, or ideas, seen as a continuous process
The march of technology has made it possible to video-call anyone in the world instantly.
the march of + abstract noun
You cannot stop the march of time, no matter how hard you try to hold onto the past.
The march of progress has brought huge improvements in medicine over the last century.
Historians study the march of events that led to the Great War.
Harper wrote about the march of digital communication in her essay.
- the march of time
- the march of progress
- the march of history
- the march of technology
Grammar Patterns
the march of + noun (time/progress/history/events/technology)
Usage Note
Always used with 'the' and followed by 'of + noun'. The noun after 'of' names the thing that is advancing (time, history, progress, technology, events, etc.). This is mainly used in formal and written English.
Common Mistakes
7. the thirty-one-day month that comes just after February, marking the start of sp
the thirty-one-day month that comes just after February, marking the start of spring in many parts of the world
The cherry blossoms usually bloom in late March in Kyoto and other warm cities.
in March
Her birthday falls on March fifteenth, which is also a national holiday in some countries.
March is the month when many schools across Taiwan hold their spring break.
The meeting was rescheduled from February twenty-eighth to March the third.
Amelia plans to move into her new apartment at the beginning of March next year.
beginning/end of March
- in March
- early March
- late March
- by March
- March + year
Grammar Patterns
in March
March + date
early/late + March
by March
Usage Note
Always capitalised as 'March' because it is a proper noun (the name of a month). In dates, the British form is '15 March' and the American form is 'March 15' — both are common in Taiwan English textbooks.
Common Mistakes
march — verb
1. to walk somewhere with quick, firm, determined steps, usually because you feel a
to walk somewhere with quick, firm, determined steps, usually because you feel angry, annoyed, or strongly about something
Élise marched into the manager's office and demanded an explanation for the error.
march into [place]
Christopher marched straight out of the meeting room without saying a single word.
The boy marched angrily to his room and slammed the door behind him.
march angrily
Indra marched across the field to confront the person who had taken her bag.
march across [place]
Tamar marched up to the counter and asked to speak to the manager immediately.
march up to [person/place]
- march into
- march out of
- march across
- march up to
- march off
- tiptoe
walking quietly and carefully, the opposite of marching
Grammar Patterns
march + into/out of/across/up to + place/person
march + adverb
march + preposition phrase
Usage Note
Always followed by a prepositional phrase or adverb indicating direction — you cannot say 'She marched' without specifying where or how. The anger or determination is conveyed by the walking style, not by the verb itself.
Common Mistakes
2. to walk together with a large group of people through public streets in order to
to walk together with a large group of people through public streets in order to publicly support or oppose something
Over ten thousand people marched through the streets of London calling for climate action.
march through + place
The students marched to the parliament building carrying signs that read Education for All.
Every year, workers march on Labour Day to demand better wages and working conditions.
march on + day/event
Vivek marched with his colleagues in support of gender equality in the workplace.
march in support of + cause
The citizens marched peacefully, singing songs and waving banners above their heads.
- march through
- march for
- march against
- march to
- march peacefully
- demonstrate
broader in meaning — you can demonstrate without walking (sitting, standing); 'march' always involves walking
- rally
a rally is typically a gathering in one place; a march moves through the streets
Grammar Patterns
march + through/along + place
march + for/against + cause
march + to + place
Usage Note
Commonly followed by 'for' (the cause supported), 'against' (the thing opposed), or 'to' (the destination). 'March on [place]' can mean marching toward a specific important location as a symbolic target.
Common Mistakes
3. to step in a steady, rhythmic pattern while holding the body upright and moving
to step in a steady, rhythmic pattern while holding the body upright and moving in coordination with others, especially soldiers or members of a ceremonial group
The soldiers marched in perfect formation across the parade ground in the morning sun.
march in formation
Nala could hear the troops marching along the road outside her house before dawn.
The cadets marched fifty kilometres through the hills without stopping for water.
march + distance
The band marched in time to the drumbeat during the national day celebration.
march in time to
The general marched his troops along the riverbank as a show of strength.
march + object — transitive use
- march in formation
- march in step
- march in time
- march + distance
- march along
- parade
suggests a ceremonial display rather than training or travel
Grammar Patterns
march + adverb/preposition
march + distance
march in formation/step/time
Usage Note
Can be used transitively (march + object) when a commander causes soldiers to move in marching order: 'The officer marched the troops to the training ground.' The intransitive use describes the soldiers' own action.
Common Mistakes
4. to force someone to go somewhere by holding them firmly and pulling or pushing t
to force someone to go somewhere by holding them firmly and pulling or pushing them along, usually because they have done something wrong
The security guard marched the teenager out of the shop by grabbing his arm firmly.
march someone out of [place]
The teacher marched the two fighting students straight to the principal's office.
march someone to [place]
The officer marched the suspect into the police station for further questioning.
Sayaka's mother marched her straight upstairs to clean up the mess in her bedroom.
march someone + adverb + to-infinitive
The head coach marched the player off the field after the argument with the referee.
march someone off [place]
- march someone out of
- march someone to
- march someone off
- march someone into
Grammar Patterns
march + someone + into/out of/off/to + place
march + someone + adverb
Usage Note
Always requires a direction phrase — you must say where the person is marched to or from. The subject is a person in authority (teacher, guard, parent) and the object is someone who is being punished or restrained.
Common Mistakes
march on
phrasal verbTo continue moving forward or to keep progressing, especially in a determined way.
The soldiers marched on despite the heavy rain.
Time marches on, and we must adapt to change.
To be told to leave a place or to lose your job.
After the argument, Tom got his marching orders from the boss.
Did Sara get her marching orders after the project failed?
To behave or think in a way that is different from most people.
Min marches to a different drummer; he paints with his feet.
Sara always marches to the beat of a different drum in her fashion choices.
To tell someone they must leave a place or lose their job.
The boss gave Brian his marching orders after the big mistake.
Did the landlord give you your marching orders yet?
Word family
- marchernounB1
- marchingadjectiveB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
These words all describe public expressions of opinion, but differ in how people move. 'March' specifically means walking together through the streets; if you say 'We marched to City Hall,' the picture is of people moving as a group along a route. 'Demonstrate' is broader — you can demonstrate by sitting in a square or standing outside a building without walking anywhere. 'Rally' means gathering in one place, often to hear speeches; people travel to a rally but do not necessarily walk together afterward. 'Protest' can be used as both a verb and a noun covering all of these actions. For example, 'Thousands marched from the park to the embassy' (moving along a route), but 'Thousands rallied in the park to hear the speaker' (gathered in one spot). When choosing among them, think about whether motion along a path is central to the event.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'march' comes through Middle English 'marchen' from Old French 'marchier' (to walk, to tread), which in turn traces to Frankish 'markōn' (to mark out, to walk within boundaries). The sense of walking with regular steps became dominant in military contexts by the 1500s. The month name 'March' is unrelated — it comes from Latin 'Martius' (month of Mars, the Roman god of war). The border/frontier meaning (now rare) comes from a separate source: Old High German 'marha' (boundary), surviving mostly in place names like 'the Welsh Marches'.