move along

keep moving forward and not stop

B1

What does "move along" mean?

"Move along" has two main uses. First, it describes continuous physical movement — often as a command or request for people to keep walking and not stop in one place. Second, it describes a process or situation making steady, gradual progress. Both uses suggest forward movement, but one is about people in a physical space and the other is about how well something like a project or plan is developing. The phrase is relaxed and neutral in tone, and it often appears with adverbs like "nicely", "smoothly", or "steadily" when talking about progress. It is more common in spoken English and informal written updates than in formal writing.

Examples

How to use it

move along (no object)

Used without any object to describe people or a process continuing to move forward.

The queue started to move along once the doors opened.

move along + adverb (nicely / smoothly / well)

Adverbs like "nicely", "smoothly", and "well" are commonly added when describing steady progress.

Our plans for the new office are moving along smoothly.

move along + place phrase

A place or path can be added to show where the movement is happening.

Shoppers moved along the street, looking in the windows.

imperative: move along (please)

The imperative form is used by authority figures — like police or security staff — to ask people to keep moving or leave an area.

"Move along, please — you can't stop here," the security guard said.

things / [project] + be + moving along

This pattern is commonly used in updates to say that a situation or project is progressing at a comfortable pace.

Things are really moving along — we finished the first stage ahead of schedule.

Common Collocations

move along nicelymove along smoothlythings are moving alongmove along, pleasethe project is moving alongmove along the street

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'move along' with 'move on'

"Move on" suggests a definite, often emotional change — like leaving a topic behind or getting over something. "Move along" focuses on steady, continuous forward movement, either physically or in terms of progress. They are not always interchangeable.

✗ She told herself to move along after the difficult conversation.
✓ She told herself to move on after the difficult conversation.
Adding an object

"Move along" does not take a direct object in this sense. You cannot use a noun or pronoun after it to say what is being moved.

✗ The manager moved along the meeting quickly.
✓ The meeting moved along quickly. / The manager kept the meeting moving along.
Using 'move along' for formal progress updates

"Move along" sounds casual and informal. In a formal report or professional document, "move forward" or "progress" would be more appropriate.

✗ The negotiations are moving along, as outlined in the official statement.
✓ The negotiations are progressing well, as outlined in the official statement.

Usage

The command 'Move along!' is typically used by police or officials to disperse crowds and sounds quite authoritative. In everyday conversation, 'things are moving along' is a relaxed, positive way to say a project or situation is progressing steadily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'move along' always sound like a command from the police?

Not at all — it just depends on the context. The imperative form ("Move along!") is strongly linked to authority figures like police or security staff. But when you say something like "the project is moving along nicely", it sounds friendly and relaxed, with no sense of authority at all.

What adverbs go well with 'move along' in the progress sense?

The most natural adverbs are "nicely", "smoothly", "well", and "steadily". These all suggest a comfortable, positive pace. You can also say "moving along at a good pace" or "moving along quickly" if things are going faster than expected.

Can 'move along' describe something moving very fast?

"Move along" usually suggests a steady, comfortable pace rather than something rapid. If you want to emphasise speed, you can add an adverb like "quickly" or "at a good pace", but the phrase naturally feels more relaxed than urgent.

Is 'nothing to see here, move along' a real phrase people use?

Yes — it started as something police or officials would say to disperse curious crowds at an incident. It has since become a well-known cultural phrase and is often used humorously, for example when someone wants to draw attention away from a mistake or an awkward situation.

Can I use 'move along' for abstract things like conversations or meetings?

Yes, this is very natural. You can say a conversation, a meeting, or a process is "moving along" to mean it is progressing at a good pace. For example: "The discussion moved along well once everyone agreed on the main points."

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