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Glite Dictionary
to move on

to move on

670 3.1
To start the next stage or activity and stop focusing on the past
  • phrasal verb
  • /muːv ɒn/
translation icon : seguir adelante
  • He found it hard to move on from the past, but he knew he needed to for his well-being.
  • move on with your life
  • move on to the next
  • move on to something else

Then you throw some guilt their way because you moved on very fast?

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Examples

  • The bereaved person knows he or she must move on to live life more fully.

    Academic text (2011)

  • OK, so if we're finished, we'll move on next time.

  • OK, so now we're going to move on to the eyes.

  • OK, now we're going to move on to the eyes.

  • Ask her these simple questions and move on to what else happens after that.

    Apollonia Ponti

  • It's natural for things to be a little weird until, you know, you move on.

    Tim Kochis: Purple Heart (2013)

  • Applications approved by this committee move on to the second stage of the approval process.

    Academic text (2008)

  • I am honored to have served you, but it's time to move on.

    Elemental (2023)

  • With the help of the teacher, the group can move on toward greater cohesiveness.

    Academic text (2008)

  • It's been more than two years since the accident, and Lexi has moved on with her life.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to go on
vsto move on
∞ 1.0

Keep happening or keep being done without stopping

involves leaving past focus and progressing to a new life phase
to move on to
vsto move on
264 2.3

To begin talking about a different topic or activity

is about leaving past feelings and starting the next life stage
to move ahead
vsto move on
61 2.7

To start or continue something so it gets closer to a goal

is focused on leaving past concerns and starting life anew
to march on
vsto move on
30 3.3

Move forward in a steady, determined way

centers on stopping past focus and beginning the next life stage
to move beyond
vsto move on
29 4.3

To go past a problem and start something better

focuses on leaving past emotions and shifting to a new life phase
to turn the page
vsto move on
9 3.7

Move on to the next page or to a new part of your life after a difficult time

emphasizes letting go emotionally and progressing into the next part of life

Antonyms

to live in the past
19 6.4

To keep thinking about the past and miss what is happening now

stuck on
16 5.1

Not able to move past a problem or stop thinking about it

How Ready

to thrive
241 3.2
to move ahead
61 2.7
to move on
670 3.1
to accept
∞ 3.5
to linger
207 3.7
to cling to
111 3.3

Surface Forms

move on infinitive
moved on past
moved on past participle
moving on present participle
moves on third person singular

Morphology

move + on

The meaning 'to progress to the next stage / stop focusing on the past' is directly derivable from 'move' (to proceed) combined with 'on' (forward/continuation). This motion-to-figurative extension is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern in particle-verb constructions, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb move on comes from a simple image: you move forward and step on to the next place. That's why it means 'to go to the next stage or activity' or 'to stop focusing on the past'.