movement

movement — noun

1. the action of changing where a body part, object, or person is, or the way this

1.nounA1
Definition

the action of changing where a body part, object, or person is, or the way this is done

Example

The nurse noticed a slight movement of the patient's fingers.

collocation: slight movement

With a swift movement, Niran caught the falling glass before it hit the floor.

collocation: swift movement

Common collocations
  • slight movement
  • sudden movement
  • swift movement
  • detect movement
  • free movement
  • body movement
Synonyms
  • motion

    more formal or scientific; 'motion' often describes continuous change of position rather than a single act

  • action

    broader in meaning; can also refer to a deed or function beyond just changing position

Grammar Patterns

a movement + prep/adverb

movement + of + noun

slight/quick/swift + movement

Usage Note

Often used with adjectives that describe speed or quality, such as slow, swift, sudden, or smooth.

Common Mistakes

I felt a move in my bag.
I felt a movement in my bag.
'move' is a verb; 'movement' is the noun for an act of changing position.

2. all the different places someone goes and the jobs they do in a certain span, pa

2.nounB1
Definition

all the different places someone goes and the jobs they do in a certain span, particularly when others keep track of them

Example

Police officers were asked to report on the suspect's movements over the weekend.

verb pattern: report on someone's movements

Femi tracked the delivery van's movements throughout the day using GPS.

Common collocations
  • track someone's movements
  • report on movements
  • daily movements
  • suspect's movements
Synonyms
  • activities

    more general; does not necessarily imply that someone is watching

  • actions

    focuses on the effects or results of what someone does, not just where they go

Grammar Patterns

someone's movements

track/report/monitor + someone's movements

Usage Note

Typically used in the plural (movements). The subject is often an authority figure such as police, a detective, or security personnel.

3. many individuals united by common aims, working to bring about change in areas s

3.nounA2
Definition

many individuals united by common aims, working to bring about change in areas such as society, government, or the arts

Example

The civil rights movement brought major legal changes to the country.

collocation: civil rights movement

Christopher joined the environmental movement after the local river became heavily polluted.

collocation: environmental movement

Common collocations
  • political movement
  • social movement
  • join a movement
  • start a movement
Synonyms
  • campaign

    more focused on a specific goal or short-term effort; a movement is broader and longer-lasting

  • cause

    refers to the principle or goal itself rather than the group of people supporting it

Grammar Patterns

a + adj + movement

the + noun + movement

movement + for + noun

Usage Note

Often used in the pattern 'the [noun] movement' where the noun describes the main concern of the group, e.g. the peace movement, the labor movement, the feminist movement.

Common Mistakes

A movement is a group of people.
A movement is a group of people who work together for a shared goal.
the purpose (shared goals / social change) is the defining feature, not just being a group.

4. a gradual change in what many people think, believe, or do over a period of time

4.nounB2
Definition

a gradual change in what many people think, believe, or do over a period of time

Example

There has been a clear movement toward healthier eating in recent years.

pattern: movement toward + noun

The movement away from coal power has accelerated in many countries.

pattern: movement away from + noun

Common collocations
  • movement toward
  • movement away from
  • slow movement
  • clear movement
Synonyms
  • trend

    more common in everyday language; a trend is a general direction, while 'movement' emphasizes the process of shifting

  • shift

    suggests a more noticeable or sudden change; often used with 'significant' or 'dramatic'

Grammar Patterns

a movement + toward/away from + noun

movement + in + noun

Usage Note

Often followed by 'toward' or 'away from' to indicate the direction of the change. This sense is very similar to 'trend' but emphasizes the ongoing process of change.

5. the process of developing or making progress toward a goal, especially in a task

5.nounB2
Definition

the process of developing or making progress toward a goal, especially in a task, situation, or activity

Example

The project manager reported steady movement forward on the bridge construction.

collocation: steady movement forward

Rohan was pleased with the movement in negotiations between the two companies.

Common collocations
  • little movement
  • movement forward
  • movement in negotiations
  • steady movement
Synonyms
  • progress

    more direct and common; 'progress' always has a positive implication, while 'movement' can be neutral

  • development

    focuses on the stages of growth or change; often used for projects or situations

Grammar Patterns

movement + in + noun

movement + on + noun

little/no movement

Usage Note

Typically used with prepositions like 'in' (in negotiations) or 'on' (on a deal). Often occurs in negative constructions such as 'no movement' or 'little movement.'

Common Mistakes

There was a movement on the project.' (when meaning progress)
There was movement on the project.
in this uncountable sense, you do not use 'a' before 'movement.'

6. one of several separate, named parts within a large musical work like a symphony

6.nounB2
Definition

one of several separate, named parts within a large musical work like a symphony, each having its own tempo and mood

Example

The orchestra played the second movement of Beethoven's symphony beautifully.

pattern: the + ordinal + movement + of + [composition]

Isabela practiced the slow movement of the piano sonata for several hours.

Common collocations
  • first movement
  • second movement
  • final movement
  • slow movement
  • opening movement

Grammar Patterns

the first/second/third/final movement

movement + of + composition name

Usage Note

Almost always used with a number or adjective (first, second, slow, fast, final) to specify which section. The word itself does not imply any particular length or speed.

7. the inner mechanism of a timekeeping device whose gears turn the hands that show

7.nounC1
Definition

the inner mechanism of a timekeeping device whose gears turn the hands that show the time

Example

The watchmaker carefully cleaned the movement of the antique grandfather clock.

collocation: clean the movement

The movement of this pocket watch has been running accurately for over a century.

Common collocations
  • mechanical movement
  • quartz movement
  • automatic movement
  • clock movement
  • watch movement

Grammar Patterns

the movement + of + a clock/watch

mechanical/quartz movement

Usage Note

Used with adjectives that describe the type of mechanism, such as 'mechanical,' 'quartz,' or 'automatic.' This is a technical term in horology.

8. the bodily process of expelling solid waste from the digestive tract, or the was

8.nounB2
Definition

the bodily process of expelling solid waste from the digestive tract, or the waste itself — a clinical term common in medical settings

Example

The doctor asked the patient about his bowel movements over the past week.

collocation: bowel movement

A diet rich in fiber helps keep bowel movements regular.

collocation: regular bowel movements

Common collocations
  • bowel movement
  • regular bowel movements
  • irregular bowel movements
  • have a bowel movement

Grammar Patterns

have a bowel movement

regular/irregular bowel movements

Usage Note

This is a polite or clinical term used in medical settings. In everyday conversation, people more commonly use other expressions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All four words refer to collective efforts toward a goal, but they differ in scope and duration. A movement is the broadest: it is a large, often long-lasting group of people working for social or political change — for example, the civil rights movement or the environmental movement. A campaign is more focused and time-limited: it aims to achieve a specific goal, such as electing a candidate or raising money. A cause is the principle or issue itself — the reason people act — rather than the group of people. A crusade is the most emotionally charged: it suggests a passionate, often morally-driven effort, sometimes with religious overtones. For instance, someone might join the environmental movement (broad group), run a fundraising campaign (specific effort), believe in the cause of clean water (the principle), and lead a crusade against plastic pollution (passionate drive).

movement ↗campaign ↗cause ↗crusade

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • free movement of people
  • freedom of movement

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Movement' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'movement,' meaning 'a change of position,' which in turn came from Latin 'movimentum,' from 'movere' (to move). The suffix '-ment' forms nouns that indicate the result or process of an action. The sense of a social or political group with shared aims emerged in the mid-19th century.