make the first move

idiom

: to act first
He was waiting for her to make the first move.

Examples of make the first move in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Once, a tattooed whiteboy stepped inside, and the group looked to me to make the first move. Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025 How to make the first move face-to-face Overcoming the fear of rejection doesn't look the same for everyone — especially for those who do suffer from social anxiety. Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 29 July 2024 On Bumble, where women make the first move, paid users increased by 10 percent, topping 3 million. Jason Parham, WIRED, 24 Dec. 2024 But come prepared to make the first move; the key lies in taking initiative and seizing the moment. Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for make the first move

Cite this Entry

“Make the first move.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20the%20first%20move. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!