Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to make a motion

to make a motion

9 4.6
Formally suggest a plan or action in a meeting
  • phrasal verb
  • Formal
translation icon : proponer
  • Before we can move forward, someone needs to make a motion to approve the minutes.

Examples

  • I would like to make a motion to allocate more funds for the community project.

  • Mr. Gilbert, I wonder if you'd like to make a motion to adjourn?

    Roger & Me (1989)

  • Your Honor, I would like to make a motion.

    Serial Mom (1994)

  • I'd like to make a motion.

    Coach Carter (2005)

  • I'd like to make a motion that we reject the claim against this young lady.

    Mascots (2016)

  • Just make a motion tomorrow morning at the arraignment.

    A Few Good Men (1992)

  • You have 24 hours to make a motion for a mistrial, which I will agree to.

    Power of Attorney (1995)

  • Look, we'll go to Randolph in the morning and make a motion for a continuance.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Alderperson Tod Ohnstad then made a motion to approve the 2013-2017 plan, as amended.

    Blog text (31)

  • On the first day of debate, Nathan Dane made a motion contending that it was beyond the power of Congress to recommend approval of the new Constitution.

    Academic text (2016)

Synonyms

to suggest
vsto make a motion
∞ 1.6

To offer an idea or plan for others to consider

is more formal and specific to meeting procedure and decisions
to propose
vsto make a motion
∞ 3.0

To suggest a plan or idea for others to consider

is the formal meeting procedure for making such an offer
to move
vsto make a motion
  • Formal
197 6.8

Ask a group to vote on something

is the standard term for formally offering such items in meetings
to put forward
vsto make a motion
65 3.2

To suggest an idea or plan for others to consider

is used especially when offering ideas formally during meetings
to motion
vsto make a motion
  • Formal
2 6.3

To suggest an action in a meeting for people to vote on

is the formal act of offering that item for consideration

Antonyms

to withdraw
103 3.7

To take back something you said before, especially in public

How Formal

to make a motion
  • Formal
9 4.6
to propose
∞ 3.0
to suggest
∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

make a motion infinitive
made a motion past
made a motion past participle
making a motion present participle
makes a motion third person singular

Morphology

make + a + motion

The meaning 'formally propose a suggestion' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'make' (to create or perform) with 'motion' (a formal proposal). This simple verb + noun compositional pattern is common in English and similar in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Make a motion comes from old meeting practice: a motion was a simple hand movement, and someone would make that movement to offer an idea. That's why today make a motion means 'to formally suggest' a plan or action in a meeting.