SpeakUp

move on — continue after a change or difficulty

phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

To stop focusing on something in the past, especially after a problem or loss, and start thinking about the future or doing something new.

Say it like a native

Textbook It is advisable to relinquish the past and progress forward.

Native You've just got to move on.

'Move on' is the natural way to talk about leaving the past behind; the formal version sounds like a self-help manual.

Pattern: move on (from sth)

In use

  • After losing his job, it took him a while to move on and look for new opportunities.daily life
  • In my opinion, it’s important to move on from mistakes so you can learn and improve in the future.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ It's time to move on from to the next topic.

✓ It's time to move on to the next topic. / to move on from the past.

'Move ON TO' the next thing, or 'move on FROM' something — don't stack both prepositions.

Common collocations

  • move on + from/to — from the past, to the next thing, with your life, quickly

Don't confuse it

Not the same as 'move out' (to leave a place where you live).

Appears in these stories

Practice speaking with instant AI feedback →