move on: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Generalneutral
  • To proceed to the next topic, matter, or stage of an activity.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Let’s move on to the next agenda item before the meeting runs too long.

    Let’s proceed to the next topic before the meeting runs too long.

  • After discussing the budget, we moved on to planning the marketing strategy.

    After discussing the budget, we proceeded to planning the marketing strategy.

  • Can we move on? I think we’ve spent enough time on this issue.

    Can we proceed? I think we’ve spent enough time on this issue.

• 2.

  Generalneutral
  • To leave a place and continue traveling or progress onward to another location.

  Examples

  Beta

  • After spending the morning at the museum, we moved on to the botanical gardens.

    After spending the morning at the museum, we left and continued to the botanical gardens.

  • They moved on from the small town and headed towards the coast for their vacation.

    They left the small town and continued traveling toward the coast for their vacation.

  • Will you move on once you finish here, or are you staying in town a bit longer?

    Will you leave this place and continue traveling once you finish here, or are you staying in town a bit longer?

  • We should move on before the traffic gets worse this evening.

    We should leave this place and continue traveling before the traffic gets worse this evening.

• 3.

  Generalinformal
  • To recover from an emotional setback or to stop dwelling on a past event.

  Examples

  Beta

  • It took her months to move on after the breakup, but now she’s doing much better.

    It took her months to recover emotionally after the breakup, but now she’s doing much better.

  • John decided to move on and stop dwelling on the mistakes he made last year.

    John decided to recover emotionally and stop dwelling on the mistakes he made last year.

  • Can you move on from this disappointment and focus on your goals?

    Can you recover emotionally from this disappointment and focus on your goals?

• 4.

  Generalinformalcolloquial
  • Used as an exhortation meaning 'hurry up' or 'get going'.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The coach shouted, 'Move on, move on!' to get the players to speed up their drills.

    The coach shouted, 'Hurry up, hurry up!' to get the players to speed up their drills.

  • When the line at the ticket counter grew long, the attendant told everyone to move on quickly.

    When the line at the ticket counter grew long, the attendant told everyone to hurry up quickly.

  • If you want to catch the train, you need to move on now or you’ll miss it.

    If you want to catch the train, you need to get going now or you’ll miss it.

• 5.

  Generalneutral
  • To move past someone or something physically, allowing passage.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Please move on so the ambulance can get through this narrow street.

    Please move past so the ambulance can get through this narrow street.

  • He moved on the crowded platform to let the elderly woman pass safely.

    He moved past the crowded platform to let the elderly woman pass safely.

  • The crowd was asked to move on to make room for the parade procession.

    The crowd was asked to move past to make room for the parade procession.

  • Can you move on a little to the right so I can get out of the car?

    Can you move past a little to the right so I can get out of the car?