moving
moving — adjective
1. Describes an object or person that is changing position and is not staying still
Describes an object or person that is changing position and is not staying still.
The moving train made the cups rattle loudly on the small table.
moving + concrete noun: moving train / moving car / moving vehicle
Wei caught a glimpse of a moving figure near the garden gate.
Security cameras on the bridge record every moving object that passes.
The children watched the moving clouds and tried to name their shapes.
A moving bicycle is more stable than one that is standing still.
- in motion
more formal; often used in technical contexts
- travelling
implies movement over a distance rather than local motion
- stationary
not moving at all
- still
completely without movement
常見錯誤
2. Making you feel sadness, sympathy, or strong positive emotion, especially when s
Making you feel sadness, sympathy, or strong positive emotion, especially when something is honest and comes from the heart.
The film's final scene was so moving that several audience members cried.
so + adjective + that-clause for result
At the wedding reception, Femi gave a moving speech about his parents.
Kemi read a moving poem about her grandmother at the memorial service.
The schoolchildren's letter was a moving reminder of why the charity matters.
There was a moving moment when the old soldier finally received his medal.
- touching
slightly gentler; often about small, personal gestures
- poignant
more formal; suggests a mix of sadness and beauty
- heartwarming
positive only; focuses on joy and love rather than sadness
用法筆記
Commonly used with intensifiers: very moving, deeply moving, extremely moving. The subject is typically a story, speech, film, song, or gesture — not a person directly (use 'touched' or 'moved' instead for people).
常見錯誤
3. Providing the reason or energy that makes someone change a situation or start do
Providing the reason or energy that makes someone change a situation or start doing something.
Personal experience was the moving force behind her decision to become a doctor.
moving force behind — noun phrase for the main motivator
The documentary became a moving force in the campaign for cleaner rivers.
Anger at the unfair rules was the moving cause of the student protests.
The founder of the shelter was described as the moving spirit of the entire organisation.
- driving
emphasises sustained energy rather than initial cause
- motivating
more direct and common in everyday use
- instigating
more formal; suggests starting something, often negative
- hindering
slows down or blocks progress
用法筆記
Typically appears in fixed noun phrases: 'moving force,' 'moving spirit,' 'moving cause.' The sense is nearly always attributive (before a noun) and often describes an abstract idea or a person's role in initiating change.
常見錯誤
moving — noun
1. The activity of changing where you live or work by taking your possessions to a
The activity of changing where you live or work by taking your possessions to a different house, apartment, or office.
Moving to a new city can be stressful, but it is also an adventure.
moving + to + [destination]: the most common pattern
The company paid for all the expenses of moving Hoa and her family abroad.
After three days of moving, Joaquín was exhausted but happy with the new flat.
The moving company arrived at eight in the morning and loaded the truck quickly.
Most people hire professional helpers when moving heavy furniture up several floors.
- relocation
more formal; used in business contexts
- move
countable noun for a single event; e.g., 'the move was tiring'
用法筆記
Common in compound nouns: 'moving company,' 'moving truck,' 'moving boxes,' 'moving day.' As a gerund noun, it can be modified by possessives ('their moving was chaotic') or used with 'of' ('the cost of moving').