movement
B1 (High frequency)Neutral (Used across all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
The act or process of moving; a change in physical position or location.
A group of people working together to advance a shared idea or cause; a change or development in ideas, opinions, or social conditions; a main division in a longer musical work.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun 'movement' can refer to physical motion, a social/political campaign, or a section of music. The specific meaning is heavily context-dependent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. No significant difference in core meanings. In plumbing/construction contexts, BrE might use 'movement joint' where AmE might say 'expansion joint'.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both dialects. No strong regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
movement of [noun] (e.g., movement of goods)movement for [noun/gerund] (e.g., movement for change)movement towards/away from [noun] (e.g., movement towards peace)movement in [noun] (e.g., movement in prices)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a movement afoot (something is being planned)”
- “make a movement (to initiate action)”
- “on the movement (military: on patrol or manoeuvre)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to trends in markets, prices, or the transfer of goods/capital (e.g., 'movement in the stock market').
Academic
Used for social/political theories (e.g., 'the feminist movement'), artistic periods, or in sciences for physical displacement.
Everyday
Commonly refers to physical motion, travel, or bowel movements.
Technical
In engineering: mechanical motion; in music: a section of a symphony; in medicine: range of motion in joints.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No verb form. The related verb is 'move'.
American English
- No verb form. The related verb is 'move'.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form.
American English
- No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No direct adjective form. Related: 'movable', 'moving'.
- The movement-related policies were controversial.
American English
- No direct adjective form. Related: 'movable', 'moving'.
- Movement activists gathered in the park.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a movement in the bushes.
- The dancer's movement was beautiful.
- He has pain with any leg movement.
- The environmental movement is growing globally.
- There has been little movement in the negotiations.
- Check for any movement before crossing the railway line.
- The slow food movement advocates for traditional cooking.
- The third movement of the symphony is particularly dramatic.
- Any movement on the sensor will trigger the alarm.
- The movement of capital across borders is tightly regulated.
- Her thesis analyses the dialectics within the suffrage movement.
- Geologists measured the tectonic movement along the fault line.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MOVE' + 'MENT' – a 'MOVE-ment' is the result or state of moving.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE MOVING OBJECTS / SOCIAL CHANGE IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'The movement gained momentum,' 'a movement towards equality').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'движение транспорта' as 'movement of transport' – use 'traffic'.
- The Russian 'движение' for a political group is directly equivalent to 'movement'.
- In medical contexts, 'bowel movement' is a fixed phrase (дефекация), not 'кишечное движение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'move' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'There was a lot of move' – incorrect; use 'movement' or 'moving').
- Confusing 'movement' with 'motion' (more scientific/legal) or 'campaign' (more organised).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'movement' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. As a physical process ('movement is restricted'), it can be uncountable. As a specific instance or organised group ('a political movement', 'sudden movements'), it is countable.
'Motion' is often more technical/scientific (laws of motion, motion in physics) or formal/legal ('to table a motion'). 'Movement' is broader, covering physical acts, social campaigns, and music.
Yes, especially in finance, arts, or ideas (e.g., 'a movement towards minimalist design', 'a downward movement in share prices').
Yes, this is the standard, neutral medical and everyday term for the act of defecation.