move in

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 start living in a new home B1
  2. 2 go towards someone or something, especially to attack or take control B2
1 move (sb) in

start living in a new home

B1

What does "move in" mean in this sense?

Moving in means starting to live in a new home — for example, a flat, a house, or a room you are renting or have bought. It describes the moment or period when you officially begin living somewhere new. It is often used without naming the place, especially when the location is already clear from the conversation. You can also use it with 'with someone' to talk about starting to share a home with another person, such as a partner, family member, or housemate. This phrasal verb is common in everyday conversation and works equally well in British and American English.

Examples

How to use it

move in (intransitive)

The most common pattern — used without an object when the location is already understood from context.

We're moving in on Saturday, so we're very excited!

move in with + person

Used to say that you are going to share a home with a specific person.

She decided to move in with her partner after they got engaged.

move + object + in

Used when a third party — such as a landlord or company — helps or arranges for someone to settle into a new place.

The company moved them in over the weekend so they could start work on Monday.

be moved in (passive)

Used when someone else organises or carries out the move on your behalf.

We were moved in by the relocation team, which made everything much easier.

Common Collocations

move in togethermove in with someonemove in to a new flatmove in datehelp someone move in

Common Mistakes

Using 'move into' when no destination is needed

Learners often write 'move into' even when the location is already clear or not important. When you don't need to name the place, 'move in' on its own sounds more natural.

✗ We're moving into next week.
✓ We're moving in next week.
Confusing 'move in' with 'move in on'

'Move in' (to settle somewhere) is completely different from 'move in on', which means to approach or close in on a target. Adding 'on' completely changes the meaning, so be careful about which one you use.

✗ We finally moved in on our new flat after weeks of waiting.
✓ We finally moved in to our new flat after weeks of waiting.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works equally well in British and American English. The pattern 'move in with [person]' is especially common when talking about starting to live with a partner or family member.

2 move in

go towards someone or something, especially to attack or take control

B2

Sense 2: What does "move in" mean?

This sense of 'move in' describes a deliberate, purposeful advance towards a specific target — usually to attack, arrest, or take control of something. It is most commonly used in military, police, and journalistic contexts, where an organised force begins closing in on an enemy position, a suspect, or a location. The phrase carries a strong sense of threat or tactical intent, making it very different from simply walking towards something. You will often see it paired with a purpose phrase ('move in to arrest', 'move in to seize the building') or a directional one ('move in from the north', 'move in from all sides'). It is particularly common in news reporting and action narratives, often in the past continuous to convey a dramatic, ongoing advance.

Examples

How to use it

subject + move in

The most basic pattern — the verb is intransitive and needs no direct object, though context (a target, a location, a threat) is usually implied.

The riot police moved in as the crowd grew more aggressive.

subject + move in + directional adverbial

A directional phrase showing where or how the force is approaching is very common and helps signal this tactical sense.

Special forces were moving in from three different directions simultaneously.

subject + move in + to-infinitive (purpose)

A purpose clause introduced by 'to' explains why the force is moving in, which is a strong marker of this specific sense.

Officers moved in to secure the building before journalists arrived.

move in for the kill

This fixed idiomatic extension can be used both literally (a predator or military force) and figuratively (a competitor seizing an opportunity).

Their rivals had been watching closely for months and were now moving in for the kill.

be moving in (continuous form)

The past or present continuous is particularly common in journalistic and narrative accounts to convey an ongoing, unfolding tactical advance.

Reports confirmed that government troops were moving in along the eastern border.

Common Collocations

troops move inpolice move inmove in for the killmove in from behindmove in to arrestforces move in

Common Mistakes

Confusing the two senses of 'move in'

The most common mistake is mixing up this tactical sense with the everyday meaning of 'move in' (to start living somewhere). The key difference is context: this sense involves a force, a threat, and a target — not a flat, furniture, or a moving date.

✗ The police moved in to their new headquarters last Friday.
✓ The police moved in to secure the building after receiving a tip-off.
Using present perfect in narrative contexts

The present perfect ('have moved in') sounds stilted with this phrasal verb in most storytelling or journalistic situations. The past continuous or simple past is almost always more natural when describing tactical movement.

✗ By the time we arrived, the troops have moved in from the north.
✓ By the time we arrived, the troops had moved in from the north.
Trying to add a direct object

Because this sense of 'move in' is intransitive, you cannot put a noun or pronoun directly after it. If you want to name the target, use the three-part form 'move in on' instead.

✗ The officers moved in the suspects.
✓ The officers moved in to arrest the suspects.

Usage

This sense is most common in news reports, military contexts, and action narratives. It often appears in the past continuous ('were moving in') to describe ongoing tactical movement, and is frequently followed by a purpose phrase like 'to arrest' or 'to take control'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'move in' and 'move into'?

'Move into' requires you to name the place directly after it — for example, 'move into the apartment'. 'Move in' is used when the location is already understood or doesn't need to be stated — for example, 'We're moving in on Friday.' Both are correct, but choosing the right one depends on whether you mention the destination.

Can I say 'move in together' when talking about a couple starting to share a home?

Yes, 'move in together' is one of the most common ways to use this phrasal verb. It's a natural and very frequent expression when talking about two people — especially partners or housemates — who decide to start living in the same place.

Does 'move in' have other meanings?

Yes — the same form can mean to advance towards a target, but in that case it is almost always followed by 'on' (for example, 'move in on'). When 'move in' appears without 'on' and the context is about housing, it means to settle into a new home.

What time expressions go well with 'move in'?

Very common ones include 'move in next week', 'move in on Saturday', 'move in straight away', 'move in after the renovation', and 'move in next month'. Time expressions work naturally with 'move in' because people often talk about when they plan to start living somewhere new.

What is the difference between 'move in' and 'move in on'?

'Move in' (two parts) is typically used in literal physical or tactical contexts, where a force begins an advance towards a target. 'Move in on' (three parts) is broader and can describe figurative encroachment — for example, a competitor moving in on your market share or someone trying to steal a romantic partner. Stick to 'move in' for military and law enforcement scenarios.

What is the difference between 'move in' and 'close in'?

'Close in' emphasises the idea of surrounding a target or narrowing the distance from multiple directions, often creating a sense of encirclement. 'Move in' focuses more on the start of a purposeful advance or the moment action begins. Both are common in military and police contexts, but 'move in' often implies that something is about to happen.

Can 'move in' be used figuratively, or is it only for military situations?

It can be used figuratively, especially in the fixed phrase 'move in for the kill', which describes any situation where someone seizes a decisive moment — for example, a company undercutting a struggling rival. Outside that idiom, the figurative use is less common, and the three-part form 'move in on' is more typical for business or social encroachment.

Why is 'were moving in' so common with this phrasal verb?

The past continuous is popular in news reports and action narratives because it makes the advance feel like an ongoing, unfolding event rather than a completed action. It creates dramatic tension — the reader or listener is placed inside the moment as it happens. Simple past ('moved in') is used when the action is complete and being reported after the fact.

Can a single person 'move in' in this sense, or does it have to be a group?

In practice, the subject is almost always a collective or institutional force — troops, police, a SWAT team, officers. Using an individual civilian subject would sound unusual and could easily be confused with the residential sense. If you want to describe one person closing in on a target, 'close in' or 'advance' would typically feel more natural.

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