movement
MOOV-muhnt
Movement (noun) means an act of changing position or place, or the general fact of not being still. Example: “She caught a slight movement in the bushes.”
noun
1
An act of changing position or place, or the general fact of not being still.
"She caught a slight movement in the bushes."
"The injury has restricted movement in his left shoulder."
"The dancer's graceful movement across the stage held the whole audience."
2
A group of people who share a set of aims and work together to bring about social, political or cultural change.
"The civil rights movement transformed American law."
"A grassroots movement sprang up to save the woodland."
"The environmental movement has encouraged many families to recycle more."
3
A self-contained main section of a longer piece of music, such as a symphony or sonata.
"The slow movement is the best-known part of the concerto."
"The orchestra played the final movement much faster than expected."
"Each movement of the symphony has its own mood and tempo."
How to use movement
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething moving, or a group of people pushing for change.
Memory tip
Use 'motion' for the abstract physics idea and 'movement' for observed moving or for organised groups.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
freedom of movement
a protest movement
range of movement
the labour movement
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She caught a slight _____ in the bushes.
Etymology
From Old French movement, from Latin movere 'to move', with the noun suffix -ment.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for movement
cement
element
clement
pavement
tenement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
amazement
See all rhymes for movement →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a movement and a campaign?
A campaign is an organised push towards a specific goal, usually with a clear end point and identifiable leaders. A movement is broader and longer-lived, made up of many people and often many campaigns, and it rarely has a single command structure.
How many movements does a symphony have?
Classical symphonies typically have four movements, usually a fast opening, a slow movement, a dance-like third and a lively finale. Composers depart from this freely, and some symphonies have three or five.
Is movement countable or uncountable?
Both. Uncountable when it means motion in general, as in 'freedom of movement', and countable when it means a single act of moving or an organised group, as in 'a sudden movement' or 'two protest movements'.
What is the meaning of movement?
"movement" (noun) means an act of changing position or place, or the general fact of not being still.
