moving
adjective
mov·ing ˈmü-viŋ 
1
a
: marked by or capable of movement
b
: of or relating to a change of residence
moving expenses
c
: used for transferring furnishings from one residence to another
a moving van
d
: involving a motor vehicle that is in motion
a moving violation
2
a
: producing or transferring motion or action
b
: stirring deeply in a way that evokes a strong emotional response
a moving story of a faithful dog
movingly
ˈmü-viŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- affecting
- emotional
- impactful
- impressive
- poignant
- stirring
- touching
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a moving story of a faithful dog He gave a moving speech at the memorial service.
Recent Examples on the Web The procession was met by a moving tribute on the M90. 
Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 13 Sep. 2022 This afternoon, Princess Anne has issued a moving tribute to her mother, the Queen. Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 13 Sep. 2022 On the then Prince Charles’s 70th birthday in 2018, the Queen gave a moving tribute to her son at a dinner at Buckingham Palace. Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 Speaking to the House of Commons, Boris Johnson delivered what some called a moving tribute to the queen. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2022 Shortly after, John posted a moving tribute to the actress. Annie O’sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 13 Aug. 2022 The star's husband, John Easterling, also posted a moving tribute. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2022 Kevin Costner shared a moving tribute to Ray Liotta as part of the MLB's annual Field of Dreams game Thursday. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022 At the time of his death last November, the Grand Slam superstar shared a moving tribute to the late fashion force on Instagram. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 See More
Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 13 Sep. 2022 This afternoon, Princess Anne has issued a moving tribute to her mother, the Queen. Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 13 Sep. 2022 On the then Prince Charles’s 70th birthday in 2018, the Queen gave a moving tribute to her son at a dinner at Buckingham Palace. Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 Speaking to the House of Commons, Boris Johnson delivered what some called a moving tribute to the queen. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2022 Shortly after, John posted a moving tribute to the actress. Annie O’sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 13 Aug. 2022 The star's husband, John Easterling, also posted a moving tribute. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2022 Kevin Costner shared a moving tribute to Ray Liotta as part of the MLB's annual Field of Dreams game Thursday. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022 At the time of his death last November, the Grand Slam superstar shared a moving tribute to the late fashion force on Instagram. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing moving
Kids Definition
moving
adjective
mov·ing
ˈmü-viŋ
1
: changing place or position
a moving target
2
: causing feelings of sadness or sympathy
a moving story
3
: used for transporting belongings from one place to another
a moving van
moving 1 of 2
adjective
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies he gave a truly moving graduation speech that had some graduates in tears Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- emotional
- touching
- affecting
- impressive
- stirring
- exciting
- passionate
- excitable
- poignant
- impactful
- feeling
- inspirational
- dramatic
- meaningful
- expressive
- eloquent
- provoking
- theatrical
- responsive
- stimulating
- rousing
- significant
- theatric
- sensitive
- demonstrative
- melodramatic
- cathartic
- histrionic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- detached
- cold
- cool
- dispassionate
- unemotional
- unimpressive
- unaffecting
- emotionless
- deadpan
moving
2 of 2verb
1
as in relocating
to change the place or position of I need you to move all your books off that chair before company gets here Synonyms & Similar Words
- relocating
- shifting
- transferring
- removing
- transporting
- hauling
- repositioning
- disturbing
- displacing
- conveying
- carrying
- replacing
- transposing
- driving
- transmitting
- dislocating
- budging
- transplanting
- altering
- toting
- modifying
- carting
- lugging
- superseding
- revising
- supplanting
- remodeling
- reworking
- remaking
- bearing
- varying
- revamping
- redoing
- refashioning
- making over
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- securing
- stabilizing
- fixing
- setting
- freezing
- anchoring
- mooring
- embedding
- imbedding
- implanting
- rooting
- entrenching
- lodging
- intrenching
- engraining
- ingraining
2
as in driving
to set or keep in motion the hands of the wall clock are moved by battery Synonyms & Similar Words
- driving
- activating
- working
- propelling
- actuating
- stimulating
- triggering
- raising
- impelling
- provoking
- motivating
- inciting
- tripping
- fomenting
- fermenting
- galvanizing
- exciting
- rousing
- setting off
- inspiring
- instigating
- abetting
- inflaming
- arousing
- enflaming
- whipping (up)
- stirring (up)
- firing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- controlling
- checking
- containing
- regulating
- restraining
- inhibiting
- constraining
- curbing
- bridling
- reining (in)
3
as in shifting
to change one's position don't move while I'm trying to draw your portrait Synonyms & Similar Words
- shifting
- stirring
- twitching
- squirming
- locomoting
- wiggling
- fidgeting
- tossing
- writhing
- jiggling
- fiddling
- wriggling
- budging
- rousing
- squiggling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- freezing
- staying
- remaining
- stabilizing
- hanging around
- stilling
- sticking around
- tarrying
4
as in affecting
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response we were deeply moved by the program of patriotic music Synonyms & Similar Words
- affecting
- influencing
- touching
- impacting
- impressing
- reaching
- swaying
- striking
- interesting
- involving
- inspiring
- bothering
- transporting
- attracting
- getting to
- penetrating
- entrancing
- stirring
- concerning
- fascinating
- trying
- disturbing
- dazzling
- engaging
- carrying away
- biasing
- worrying
- plaguing
- enchanting
- ravishing
- enthralling
- stressing
- troubling
- telling (on)
- harassing
- agitating
- piercing
- upsetting
- distressing
- perturbing
- afflicting
- coloring
- captivating
- disquieting
- harrying
- pestering
- discomforting
- enrapturing
- biassing
- flustering
- charming
- smiting
- discomposing
- wringing
- straining
- alluring
- bewitching
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tiring
- boring
- wearying
- palling
- jading
- underwhelming
5
as in provoking
to rouse to strong feeling or action the heartfelt appeal moved the people to reach into their pockets and donate generously Synonyms & Similar Words
- provoking
- encouraging
- stimulating
- stirring
- driving
- inspiring
- motivating
- exciting
- sparking
- inciting
- arousing
- instigating
- inducing
- triggering
- motiving
- impassioning
- animating
- activating
- igniting
- fanning
- getting
- galvanizing
- energizing
- firing (up)
- piquing
- building a fire under
- bothering
- raising
- quickening
- revving (up)
- angering
- inflaming
- kindling
- setting off
- fomenting
- fermenting
- vitalizing
- teasing
- enraging
- pumping up
- taunting
- enflaming
- upsetting
- maddening
- abetting
- aggravating
- irritating
- jeering
- annoying
- exasperating
- vexing
- whipping (up)
- keying (up)
- galling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- calming
- soothing
- subduing
- placating
- appeasing
- pacifying
- tranquilizing
- mollifying
- tranquillizing
6
as in convincing
to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests the report moved me to change my mind about the issue Synonyms & Similar Words
- convincing
- persuading
- bringing
- getting
- inducing
- converting
- gaining
- urging
- satisfying
- attracting
- arguing
- selling
- coaxing
- bringing around
- luring
- swaying
- prompting
- enticing
- influencing
- entreating
- seducing
- exhorting
- winning (over)
- cajoling
- discussing
- prevailing (on or upon)
- tempting
- drawing
- interesting
- inclining
- talking (into)
- blandishing
- conversing
- wheedling
- snowing
- blarneying
- alluring
- beguiling
- debating
- leading on
- brainwashing
- disputing
- overpersuading
- chewing over
- fast-talking
- mooting
- hashing (over)
- reasoning (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dissuading
- discouraging
- deterring
- unselling
7
as in activating
to cause to function this one button moves the whole machine Synonyms & Similar Words
- activating
- driving
- triggering
- sparking
- starting
- powering
- generating
- running
- pushing
- fueling
- provoking
- firing
- actuating
- igniting
- charging
- setting off
- switching
- touching off
- fuelling
- turning on
- launching
- electrifying
- releasing
- accelerating
- stimulating
- energizing
- discharging
- tripping
- cranking (up)
- turning over
- exciting
- recharging
- reactivating
- kicking over
- quickening
- inciting
- instigating
- arousing
- vitalizing
- catalyzing
- kick-starting
- jump-starting
- stirring up
- stepping up
- speeding (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cutting
- killing
- sticking
- stopping
- checking
- stalling
- deactivating
- turning off
- halting
- arresting
- jamming
- braking
- slowing
- shutting off
- decelerating
- suppressing
- cutting out
- repressing
- stunting
- cutting off
- drawing up
8
as in exiting
to leave a place often for another the police officer told the loiterers to move along Synonyms & Similar Words
- exiting
- departing
- getting
- going
- starting
- evacuating
- fleeing
- flying
- escaping
- parting
- quitting
- bailing
- retreating
- withdrawing
- emigrating
- retiring
- pulling out
- running along
- walking out
- skipping
- pushing off
- getting off
- digging out
- cutting out
- taking off
- peeling off
- bailing out
- pushing on
- taking a hike
- beating it
- going off
- clearing out
- scarpering
- bugging out
- booking
- clearing off
- taking a walk
- removing
- abandoning
- vamoosing
- taking a powder
- buggering off
- vacating
- bugging off
- hitting the road
- pulling up stakes
- pulling stakes
- decamping
- stepping (along)
- shoving (off)
- packing (up or off)
- deserting
- setting out
- scramming
- sallying (forth)
- striking out
- buzzing (off)
- getting out
- absconding
- forsaking
- running away
- piking (out or off)
- stepping out
- scatting
- going out
- lighting out
- mizzling
- adjourning
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coming
- arriving
- staying
- remaining
- settling
- approaching
- closing
- dwelling
- reaching
- turning up
- lodging
- abiding
- hitting
- nearing
- landing
- showing up
- tarrying
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of moving are affecting, impressive, pathetic, poignant, and touching. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.
a moving appeal for contributions
Affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.
an affecting deathbed reunion
While in some cases nearly identical to moving, impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.
an impressive list of achievements
The meanings of pathetic and moving largely overlap; however, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.
pathetic attempts to justify misconduct
The words poignant and moving are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.
a poignant documentary on the homeless
In some situations, the words touching and moving are roughly equivalent. However, touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.
the touching innocence in a child's eyes