Prepositions of Movement

Prepositions of Movement (B2–C1): Meaning, Use & Common Pitfalls

Prepositions of movement describe how something moves, where it moves, and the direction or path it follows. At B2–C1 level, the key is not learning the words themselves, but using them accurately, idiomatically, and without interference from your first language.

In this lesson, we’ll look at the most important prepositions of movement, with clear distinctions, natural examples, and usage notes that matter in advanced writing and speaking.

To

Meaning: movement in the direction of a specific destination.

• David walked to his car.

• She rushed to the door when the bell rang.

To focuses on the destination, not the journey.

From

Meaning: shows the starting point of movement.

• Sandra commutes from Slough to London every day.

• He flew from Paris early in the morning.

Often used in pairs: from … to …

Into

Meaning: movement from outside to a position inside something.

• Ben tucked his shirt into his trousers.

• She walked into the room without knocking.

Into implies change of position, not just location.

Out of

Meaning: movement from inside something to the outside.

• Mary took her wallet out of her purse.

• He stepped out of the car carefully.

The opposite of into.

On

Meaning: movement resulting in contact with a surface.

• Please put the newspaper on the table.

• Snow fell on the rooftops overnight.

Do not confuse on (movement + contact) with onto (emphasises direction).

Off

Meaning: movement away from a surface, often involving contact first.

• Keep off the grass — it’s just been seeded.

• He jumped off the wall and landed awkwardly.

Off usually implies separation from a surface and is common in warnings and instructions.

Up

Meaning: movement towards a higher point or level.

• They climbed up the tower to enjoy the view.

• She ran up the stairs without stopping.

Up can describe physical movement (up the hill) or abstract change (prices went up).

Down

Meaning: movement from a higher position to a lower one, or movement that follows a downward direction.

• Sean scanned down the list of names, looking for his own.

• The children ran down the hill, laughing as they went.

Down is very common with verbs of movement and looking, especially when attention moves step by step.

Along

Meaning: movement that continues in the same direction beside or following something.

• The couple walked along the riverbank as the sun set.

• He cycled along the main road into town.

Along draws attention to the path of movement, not the final destination.

Through

Meaning: movement from one side to the other inside something.

• The train rushed through the tunnel.

• She walked through the crowd.

Through implies being surrounded by something.

Across

Meaning: movement from one side to the other on a surface or open area.

• The boat sailed across the river.

• He ran across the street.

Compare:

• through the forest (inside it)
• across the field (over its surface)

Towards / Toward

Meaning: movement in the direction of a person or place, without implying that it is reached.

• She walked towards the exit but stopped to answer her phone.

• Which bus goes towards Leeds from here?

We choose towards when the direction is important, not the arrival. (In British English, towards is much more common than toward.)

Over

Meaning: movement across something, often involving height or a change of position.

• Harry pulled the chair over to the window to get more light.

• The plane flew over the city before landing.

Over can suggest crossing a space, moving above something, or shifting an object from one place to another.

Under

Meaning: movement to a position below something, usually to avoid contact.

• The cat crawled under the bed during the storm.

• He ducked under the barrier to avoid hitting his head.

Under is often used when movement involves shelter, avoidance, or protection.

Around

Meaning: movement in a curved path or movement that avoids something.

• Journalists gathered around the footballer after the match.

• We had to walk around the building because the entrance was closed.

Around often implies circling an object or taking an alternative route.

Past

Meaning: movement beyond a point, without stopping there.

• Go past the church and turn left at the crossroads.

• She walked past me as if she hadn’t noticed me.

Past highlights a fixed reference point that is left behind during movement.

Away from

Meaning: movement starting near something and increasing distance from it.

• James stepped away from the car.

• She backed away from the edge.

Often used when distance or separation is important.

At advanced level, mistakes with prepositions are rarely about meaning — they’re about precision. Always ask yourself:

• Am I focusing on the destination, the path, or the starting point?

• Is the movement inside, over, across, or around something?

Mastering these details will noticeably improve your Cambridge writing, speaking accuracy, and overall fluency.

Learn about prepositions of place here

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