Topic: MILITARY
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | marchier 'to step heavily' |
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march1
1 [intransitive]PM if soldiers or other people march somewhere, they walk there quickly with firm regular steps
march on He gathered his troops and prepared to march on the capital (=march to the capital in order to attack it).
He gathered his troops and prepared to march on the capital (=march to the capital in order to attack it).2 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a large group of people march somewhere, they walk there together to express their ideas or protest about something : An estimated 5,000 people marched through the city to demonstrate against the factory closures.
An estimated 5,000 people marched through the city to demonstrate against the factory closures. march on Outraged citizens marched on City Hall (=marched to City Hall), demanding the police chief's resignation.
Outraged citizens marched on City Hall (=marched to City Hall), demanding the police chief's resignation.3 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to walk somewhere quickly and with determination, often because you are angry
4 [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to force someone to walk somewhere with you, often pushing or pulling them roughly
5 to be ordered to leave, especially because someone no longer wants you to work for them or no longer wants a relationship with you
be given/get your marching orders
British English informal6 used to say that as time goes by, situations change and things do not remain the same
time marches on
WORD FOCUS: walk WORD FOCUS: walk
stroll in a relaxed way for pleasure
wander with no aim or direction
stride in a confident or angry way
march soldiers
hike for long distances in the countryside or the mountains
tiptoe very quietly
wade through water
stagger in an unsteady way because you are drunk or injured
limp with difficulty because one leg is painful or injuredwalk
➔ See also walk
WORD FOCUS: walk stroll in a relaxed way for pleasure
wander with no aim or direction
stride in a confident or angry way
march soldiers
hike for long distances in the countryside or the mountains
tiptoe very quietly
wade through water
stagger in an unsteady way because you are drunk or injured
limp with difficulty because one leg is painful or injuredwalk
➔ See also walk
