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go through the motions

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mo⋅tion

  [moh-shuhn]
Use go through the motions in a Sentence
–noun
1. the action or process of moving or of changing place or position; movement.
2. power of movement, as of a living body.
3. the manner of moving the body in walking; gait.
4. a bodily movement or change of posture; gesture.
5. a proposal formally made to a deliberative assembly: to make a motion to adjourn.
6. Law. an application made to a court or judge for an order, ruling, or the like.
7. a suggestion or proposal.
8. an inward prompting or impulse; inclination: He will go only of his own motion.
9. Music. melodic progression, as the change of a voice part from one pitch to another.
10. Machinery.
a. a piece of mechanism with a particular action or function.
b. the action of such a mechanism.
–verb (used with object)
11. to direct by a significant motion or gesture, as with the hand: to motion a person to a seat.
–verb (used without object)
12. to make a meaningful motion, as with the hand; gesture; signal: to motion to someone to come.
—Idioms
13. go through the motions, to do something halfheartedly, routinely, or as a formality or façade.
14. in motion, in active operation; moving: The train was already in motion when he tried to board it.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME mocio(u)n < L mōtiōn- (s. of mōtiō), equiv. to mōt(us) (ptp. of movēre to move ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
mo⋅tion⋅al, adjective
mo⋅tion⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. Motion, move, movement refer to change of position in space. Motion denotes change of position, either considered apart from, or as a characteristic of, something that moves; usually the former, in which case it is often a somewhat technical or scientific term: perpetual motion. The chief uses of move are founded upon the idea of moving a piece, in chess or a similar game, for winning the game, and hence the word denotes any change of position, condition, or circumstances for the accomplishment of some end: a shrewd move to win votes. Movement is always connected with the person or thing moving, and is usually a definite or particular motion: the movements of a dance. 3. bearing, carriage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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mo·tion   (mō'shən)   
n.  

  1. The act or process of changing position or place.

  2. A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture.

  3. Active operation: set the plan in motion.

  4. The ability or power to move: lost motion in his arm.

  5. The manner in which the body moves, as in walking.

  6. A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination: resigned of her own motion.

  7. Music Melodic ascent and descent of pitch.

  8. Law An application made to a court for an order or a ruling.

  9. A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures.

    1. A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism.

    2. The movement or action of such a device.

v.   mo·tioned, mo·tion·ing, mo·tions

v.   tr.
To direct by making a gesture: motioned us to our seats.
v.   intr.
To signal by making a gesture: motioned to her to enter.

[Middle English mocioun, from Old French motion, from Latin mōtiō, mōtiōn-, from mōtus, past participle of movēre, to move; see meuə- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

motion  (n.)
c.1374, from O.Fr. motion (13c.), from L. motionem (nom. motio) "a moving, an emotion," from motus, pp. of movere "to move" (see move). The verb sense in parliamentary procedure first recorded 1747; with meaning "to guide or direct by a sign, gesture, movement" it is attested from 1787.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: motion
Function: verb
: MOVE <motioned for a summary judgment>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: mo·tion
Pronunciation: 'mO-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : an act, process, or instance of changing place : MOVEMENT
2 a : an evacuation of the bowels b : the matter evacuated —often used inplural motions —Lancet>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

motion mo·tion (mō'shən)
n.

  1. The act or process of changing position or place.

  2. The manner in which the body or a body part moves.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

go through the motions

Do something perfunctorily, or merely pretend to do it. For example, The team is so far behind that they're just going through the motions, or She didn't really grieve at his death; she just went through the motions. [c. 1800]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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