move out
leave the place where you have been living
What does "move (sb) out" mean?
Examples
- She moved out of her parents' house when she was 22.
- We're moving out next weekend — the new place is finally ready.
- The landlord moved the tenants out at the end of the lease because he was selling the building.
How to use it
The most common pattern — used without an object when the context makes the home clear. 'Of + place' can be added for more detail.
She moved out of her flat at the end of the month.
Used when an authority figure — like a landlord — forces or arranges for someone to leave. Pronouns must go between 'move' and 'out'.
The landlord moved them out before the renovations started.
Used transitively with short noun objects like 'the tenants' or 'the family', usually implying someone in authority is causing the departure.
The housing company moved the tenants out at the end of the lease.
The passive is natural when you want to focus on the people who are made to leave, rather than on who is making them leave.
The residents were moved out by the council while the building was being repaired.
The -ing form is common when talking about the process or experience of leaving a home as a general topic.
Moving out for the first time can feel both exciting and stressful.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When you use a pronoun object, it must go between 'move' and 'out'. Placing it after 'out' is not correct in English.
'Move out' means leaving a specific home or flat. 'Move away' means leaving an area, town, or city to live somewhere further away. They are not interchangeable.
'Move out' is for places where someone has been living — flats, houses, family homes. For hotels or short-term accommodation, 'check out' is the natural choice.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and equally common in British and American English. The intransitive form ('I'm moving out') is much more frequent than the transitive ('The landlord moved them out'), which usually implies someone is being forced to leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need to say 'move out of' or can I just say 'move out'?
'Of + place' is completely optional. If the context already makes it clear which home you mean, you can simply say 'move out'. For example, 'I'm planning to move out next spring' is perfectly natural without naming the place.
Can 'move out' describe someone being forced to leave, not just choosing to leave?
Yes — in the transitive form, 'move out' often implies that someone in authority, like a landlord or a council, is making people leave. For example: 'The building manager moved everyone out so repairs could begin.' In the passive, this meaning is also very clear: 'The tenants were moved out.'.
Is 'move out' the same as 'move'?
Not exactly. 'Move' on its own can mean changing home, changing position, or even being emotionally affected by something. 'Move out' is more specific — it always means leaving a place where you have been living. Using 'move out' makes your meaning clearer in housing contexts.
Can I use 'moving out' to talk about the general experience, not just a specific event?
Yes, the -ing form works very naturally as a gerund when you are talking about the process in general. Sentences like 'Moving out is expensive' or 'Moving out on your own for the first time is a big step' are both common and correct.
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