phrase

moving on

MOO-ving ON

Moving on (phrase) means accepting that something painful is over and letting go of it enough to get on with life. Example: “A year after the break-up she felt she was finally moving on.”

phrase

Accepting that something painful is over and letting go of it enough to get on with life.

"A year after the break-up she felt she was finally moving on."

"Moving on doesn't mean forgetting what happened."

Used to signal that a speaker is leaving one topic and turning to the next.

"Moving on, let's look at the second-quarter figures."

Leaving a place, job or situation for another one.

"After six years at the agency he is moving on to a start-up."

How to use moving on

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLeaving something behind and carrying on with your life.

When to use it

Everyday and neutral; common in both emotional talk and business meetings.

Memory tip

'Move on from' takes the thing you are leaving behind: moving on from a job, from a relationship, from a mistake.

Easily confused with

moving out getting over it moving forward →

Common pairings

moving on with your life moving on from a break-up time to move on moving on to the next point

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A year after the break-up she felt she was finally _____.

Rhymes for moving on

Klingon

See all rhymes for moving on →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between moving on and getting over something?

Getting over something suggests the hurt itself has faded, so it no longer troubles you. Moving on is about your life rather than your feelings: you carry on and rebuild, even if some of the sadness remains.

Is 'moving on' a noun or a verb?

It is the verb 'move on' in its -ing form, and it can act as a noun phrase in a sentence such as 'Moving on was harder than she expected'. There is no separate noun 'a moving on'.

How do you use 'moving on' politely in a meeting?

Put it at the start of a sentence as a signpost: 'Moving on, the next item is the budget.' It closes the current topic gently without saying that the discussion was unwelcome.

What is the meaning of moving on?

"moving on" (phrase) means accepting that something painful is over and letting go of it enough to get on with life.