Phrasal verbs with move

When you think about move in phrasal verbs, picture someone or something changing position or situation. This basic idea of movement runs through all these combinations, but the particles tell you exactly what kind of change is happening.

Some of these phrasal verbs describe physical movement from one place to another. Move away means leaving your home area completely, whilst move out and move in focus on the specific moments of leaving and arriving at a new home. Move over is much smaller – you just shift position to make space for someone else.

Other combinations use this movement idea to talk about progress and change in life. Move up suggests advancement, like getting promoted at work or progressing to a higher level. Move along often means making progress with something, though it can also be used as a firm way to tell someone to leave. Move on is particularly interesting because it works in two ways: you can move on to a new topic or job, but you can also move on emotionally from a difficult experience.

There's also move in meaning to approach with purpose, often to take control or attack. This shows how the same particle can create quite different meanings depending on the context.

Notice how these particles – over, along, away, up, out, in, on – each bring their own sense of direction to the basic idea of movement.