/ˈmoʊʃən/
Say it backMotion refers to the act or process of moving or changing place, position, or state. It can describe physical movement, a proposition or proposal in legal or formal contexts, or a sequence of events in a narrative. In everyday use, it often implies movement with purpose or direction. The term appears across science, law, film, and everyday discussion of movement or progress.
- Overemphasizing the second syllable, leading to a choppy MOH-shun; instead, keep a light, quick /ʃən/ after the glide. - Mispronouncing the first syllable as a hard /moh/ without the proper /oʊ/ glide; ensure the diphthong starts mid and glides to high. - Dropping the vowel or adding an extra vowel between /m/ and /ʃ/; avoid inserting a pause between /m/ and /ʃ/.
"The motion of the pendulum slows as friction acts on it."
"She filed a motion in court requesting a temporary injunction."
"The motion of the crowd surged toward the exits."
Motion is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈmoʊ.ʃən/ in US English and /ˈməʊ.ʃən/ in UK/Australian English. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Start with a long mid-to-high back vowel in the first syllable, then a light, unstressed second syllable with /ʃən/ (shuhn). Ensure the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ glide in the first syllable is smooth, not a hard stop, and finish with a quiet schwa in the second syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (saying MOtion with even emphasis) and mispronouncing the second syllable as /ən/ with a clear n, instead of a reduced /ən/. Another error is pronouncing the first syllable as /moh/ without the proper /oʊ/ glide, or inserting an extra consonant. Correct by emphasizing /ˈmoʊ/ (US) or /ˈməʊ/ (UK/AU), then a soft /ʃən/. Practice by isolating the two syllables: /ˈmoʊ/ + /ʃən/ and blending the transition.
In US English, /ˈmoʊ.ʃən/ with a pronounced /oʊ/ vowel and rhoticity not affecting /r/. In UK/AU, /ˈməʊ.ʃən/ often with a shorter, clipped /əʊ/ and less rhotic influence; the second syllable remains /ʃən/. Australians may show slightly raised vowel quality and a more centralized /ɒ/ in some speakers, but most maintain /məʊ/ rather than /moʊ/. Overall, the rhythm remains two syllables with primary stress on the first.
Two main challenges: the diphthong in the first syllable /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ requires a controlled glide from mid to high, which can be tricky for non-native speakers; and the unstressed second syllable /ʃən/ is often reduced, leading people to over-pronounce the vowel or consonant. Another difficulty is maintaining the smooth /ʃ/ transition from /m/ to /ʃ/ without an extra vowel. Focus on the glide and the clean /ʃ/ + schwa sequence.
Is the ‘t’ in motion silent or emitted when fast speech runs the two syllables together? In careful speech, you clearly unfold /m/ + /oʊ/ + /ʃən/. In casual speech, the /oʊ/ may be shortened and the /ʃ/ can blend with the preceding /m/ without a strong boundary, but the /t/ is never present in motion; it is helpfully not silenced but simply not there. Remember: there is no /t/ in motion.
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The word motion traces to the Latin word motio, from movēre ‘to move.’ In Latin, motio denoted a moving or moving cause, from which English borrowed motion through Old French movçon and eventually Middle English. The root mov-, from Latin movēre, yields related forms such as move, moveable, and motion. The concept broadened in English from simply physical movement to include the act of proposing or presenting a motion in deliberative bodies (legal or parliamentary motion), and even to describe change or progress in various domains. First known uses appear in medieval legal and philosophical contexts, reflecting the idea of movement, impulse, or proposal. Over time, motion expanded to scientific senses (mechanics, kinematics) and metaphorical senses (moral motion, emotional motion). In modern usage, it spans physics, law, film (motion pictures), and everyday language, retaining core meaning: movement with direction or intention. The term’s semantic family includes “motion,” “move,” “motivate,” and “remotion,” illustrating its deep historical ties to change and action across languages.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "motion" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "motion"
-me) sounds
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