movimentar

Movimentar is a Portuguese verb that primarily means to set in motion or to move something from one place to another. It can refer to physical movement, as in movimentar uma peça, o corpo, or a ferramenta, as well as to mobilizing or energizing people, resources, or processes, such as movimentar a população, movimentar recursos financeiros, or movimentar uma operação. The term is transitive and can also be used reflexively as movimentar-se, indicating becoming active or moving oneself.

Etymology and form: Movimentar is derived from movimento, meaning movement, which comes from the Latin movere, mover. The suffix -ar marks it as an infinitive verb in Portuguese, and it follows the regular -ar verb conjugation patterns, making its forms predictable within standard Brazilian and European Portuguese.

Usage notes: Movimentar is common in contemporary usage when the emphasis is on initiating action, coordination, or deployment, such as mobilizing people or assets. It often carries a nuance slightly broader than mover or mobilizar, underscoring active participation in initiating motion or change. In everyday speech, movimentar-se is used to describe oneself becoming more active or physically moving in a given context.

Examples: Vamos movimentar as peças do tabuleiro. O governo pretende movimentar a economia com medidas fiscais. Ela se movimenta com agilidade durante o treino.

Related terms include movimento, mover, mobilizar, mobilização and movimentação.