Meaning
leave or progress from a current situation; change topic or direction; emotionally get over something (often implying closure).
Primary Function
expressing transition or moving forward after an event such as a breakup, meeting end, or career shift.
Communicative Purpose
to convey that it is appropriate or necessary to leave behind the present circumstance and advance toward new possibilities.
Pattern
move on; move on to
Core Structure
move on; move on to
Função primária
expressing transition or moving forward after an event such as a breakup, meeting end, or career shift.
Propósito comunicativo
to convey that it is appropriate or necessary to leave behind the present circumstance and advance toward new possibilities.
Situações de gatilho
breakups, ending meetings, staff layoffs, personal growth decisions, when someone wants to stop dwelling on past events.
Contextos
everyday conversation, professional settings like workplace transitions, counseling advice, life‑advice narratives.
Padrão
move on; move on to
Estrutura central
move on; move on to
Slots de substituição
to [noun phrase] (the target of moving on); the verb can also be used without ‘to’ for intransitive meaning.
Colocados típicos
- time to
- ready to
- need to
- progress toward
- advance to.
Substituições comuns
- go forward
- proceed
- continue
- get over (emotional sense)
- break up with it.
Erros comuns
incorrectly using ‘from’ instead of omitting it – e.g., saying “move on from a relationship” is acceptable but not required; also avoid making the verb transitive (“She moved him on”).
Similar / contraste
get over (more emotional/relational tone), carry on (less definitive), go on (continues without change).
Interferências
In some languages, learners may confuse the idiomatic sense with literal translation meaning leaving physically or abandoning something.
Família do chunk
- move-on
Nuance
Carries forward‑looking intent and often implies acceptance and closure rather than regret.
Efeito pragmático
Signals determination to move ahead, can be assertive in advice-giving or decision-making contexts.
Dica de memória
“It’s time to move on.”
Nota
The phrasal verb 'move on' can be used both literally (to physically move from one place to another) and figuratively (to progress beyond a certain point or situation). In most cases, it has a more abstract, emotional, or situational meaning, rather than a physical one.
Upgrade path
move on from the past
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