all but moving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all but moving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is nearly in motion or very close to moving, but not quite there yet. Example: "The car was all but moving, stuck in the heavy traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As they appeared together, Mr. Trump mocked the governor for eating too many Oreos, and for all but moving out of New Jersey as he campaigned for president in New Hampshire.

The New York Times

For ambitious coaches, professional football can offer the biggest lure of all, but moving between the two games is treacherous.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Howard Dean, John Edwards, John Kerry and Richard Gephardt have all but moved in.

The New York Times

"What age?" By the spring of 2000, Mr. Basile had all but moved into Ms. Holm's apartment.

The New York Times

By the time Roosevelt became McKinley's running mate in 1900, he had all but moved into the White House.

The New York Times - Books

But for the last nine months a team of six conservators has all but moved in and will be there for the next two years.

The New York Times - Arts

My once-weekly check-ins with Professor Piñango became twice-weekly, and then thrice, until I had all but moved into her office.

The New York Times

Soon the younger man, who had been something of a stay-at-home dad (a sure sign, in the movies, of emasculation and failure) has all but moved into the Alcotts' palatial villa.

The New York Times

Some of these women all but moved into their widowed children's homes more than four months ago, leaving behind frozen dinners for their husbands and living like gypsies, with one shoe at one house and its mate at another.

The New York Times

Despite listing his official residence as his sister's home on Avenue L in Mill Basin, Mr. Kruger had all but moved in with the Turanos in their 7,000-square-foot 7,000-square-foot 7,000-square-foothomeeighborhood and features ostentatious sculptures of frolicking children and soaring seagulls.

The New York Times

This wasn't the first time a more than decent Alien franchise tie-in emerged when gaming technology had all but moved on.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all but moving" to subtly suggest an action is almost underway, creating anticipation or highlighting a precarious balance.

Common error

Avoid using "all but moving" when you mean 'everything except moving'. The phrase indicates near completion, not exclusion. If you mean 'everything except', use 'everything but' or 'all except'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all but moving" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which something is moving or has moved. It suggests a state of near-motion or near-completion of movement, without actually being in full motion. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all but moving" is a grammatically sound and useful expression that indicates a state of near-motion or imminent movement. As verified by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adverbial modifier and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While not as common as alternatives like "almost moving", it effectively conveys a sense of anticipation or precariousness. It's important to avoid misinterpreting "all but" as exclusionary; instead, recognize its meaning as 'nearly' or 'almost'. By keeping these nuances in mind, writers can effectively use "all but moving" to add depth and precision to their descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost moving

Indicates a slightly more direct sense of near-motion compared to the original phrase.

virtually moving

Implies the motion is so close to happening that it's as good as happening.

practically in motion

More explicitly describes the state of being nearly in motion.

nearly in motion

Directly states the condition of being close to moving.

on the verge of moving

Suggests the motion is about to begin very soon.

on the brink of moving

Similar to 'on the verge', indicating imminent movement.

about to move

Simple and direct way to express an impending action.

just about to move

Emphasizes the immediacy of the intended movement.

close to moving

A straightforward alternative indicating proximity to movement.

nearing movement

Focuses on the process of approaching a state of motion.

FAQs

How can I use "all but moving" in a sentence?

You can use "all but moving" to describe something that is very close to being in motion. For example: "The car was "almost moving", stuck in the heavy traffic."

What's a good alternative to "all but moving"?

Alternatives include "virtually moving", "nearly in motion", or "on the verge of moving", depending on the context.

Is "all but moving" grammatically correct?

Yes, "all but moving" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a state of near-motion.

What is the difference between "all but moving" and "all except moving"?

"All but moving" means nearly moving, while "all except moving" means everything is moving, but something specific is not. For example, "all except moving the furniture" would indicate the activity in the sentence doesn't involve moving furniture.