Motion vs. Resolution — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 26, 2023
Motion refers to the action or process of moving or being moved. Resolution can refer to a formal decision made by a group or the clarity of an image. Both have varied contexts but generally contrast between movement and determination/clarity.
Difference Between Motion and Resolution
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Motion relates to the process of moving or a particular manner of moving something. It captures the essence of change in position or state. On the other hand, Resolution can signify a formal decision or determination made by an assembly or body. It denotes a firmness of purpose or intent. Both these words have their respective fields of application, but one captures dynamism while the other captures determination.
In physics, Motion refers to the change in position of an object over time, observed in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and time. In contrast, Resolution in terms of imagery means the smallest discernible detail of an image, signifying clarity and sharpness. Thus, while motion focuses on movement and change, resolution emphasizes clarity and detail.
When talking about legislative or organizational environments, a Motion is a proposal by a member to introduce a decision for consideration, reflecting an urge to move something forward. Meanwhile, a Resolution is a formal expression of the opinion or will of an official group. In this context, motion propels action, whereas resolution solidifies intent.
In a cinematic or storytelling setting, Motion can describe the movement of characters, objects, or the storyline itself. It is the driving force that pushes the plot forward. Resolution, conversely, can refer to the unfolding or conclusion of a story where all its elements come to a clear and coherent end
Comparison Chart
Definition
The action or process of moving.
A firm decision to do or not to do something.
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Field
Physics, Legislature, Cinema, Communication.
Imagery, Legislature, Storytelling, Commitment.
Associated Terms
Speed, Acceleration, Direction.
Clarity, Determination, Decision, Sharpness.
Nature
Dynamic and changing.
Finality and clarity.
Usage in Sentence
"The motion of the ocean waves was mesmerizing."
"The resolution of the image was stunning."
Compare with Definitions
Motion
A proposal made during a formal meeting or legislative assembly.
She presented a motion to increase the funding for local schools.
Resolution
A firm decision to do or not to do something.
His resolution to lose weight was commendable.
Motion
The act of directing a lawsuit from one court to another.
The lawyer filed a motion to move the case to federal court.
Resolution
The clarity or fineness of detail in an image or screen.
The 4K TV has a much higher resolution than the older models.
Motion
In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position over time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed, and time.
Resolution
A formal expression of the opinion or will of an assembly.
The committee passed a resolution supporting the climate change initiatives.
Motion
The action or process of moving or being moved
A cushioned shoe that doesn't restrict motion
The laws of planetary motion
Resolution
The act of resolving or determining upon an action or course.
With resolution, she decided to start her own business.
Motion
A formal proposal put to a legislature or committee
Opposition parties tabled a no-confidence motion
Resolution
A firm decision to do or not to do something
She kept her resolution not to see Anne any more
A New Year's resolution
Motion
An evacuation of the bowels
73% of the patients had fewer than three bowel motions a day
Her mother put on her nappy for her to pass a motion
Resolution
The quality of being determined or resolute
He handled the last British actions of the war with resolution
Motion
Direct or command (someone) with a movement of the hand or head
He motioned Dennis to a plush chair
He motioned the young officer to sit down
Resolution
The action of solving a problem or contentious matter
A successful resolution to the problem
The peaceful resolution of all disputes
Motion
Propose for discussion and resolution at a meeting or legislative assembly
A resolution, motioned by Adam Tyler, proposed that members without a CCL could still belong to the association
Councillor Byrne motioned that the committee call on the area manager to install street lighting
Resolution
The process of reducing or separating something into constituent parts or components.
Motion
The act or process of changing position or place.
Resolution
The smallest interval measurable by a telescope or other scientific instrument; the resolving power.
Motion
A meaningful or expressive change in the position of the body or a part of the body; a gesture.
Resolution
The conversion of something abstract into another form
The gradual resolution of an uncertain feeling into a named emotion
Motion
Active operation
Set the plan in motion.
Resolution
The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination
Faced the situation with resolution.
Motion
The ability or power to move
Lost motion in his arm.
Resolution
A firm decision to do something
Made a resolution to get more exercise.
Motion
The manner in which the body moves, as in walking.
Resolution
A course of action determined or decided on
His resolution is to get up early.
Motion
A prompting from within; an impulse or inclination
Resigned of her own motion.
Resolution
The act of solving or explaining a problem or puzzle.
Motion
(Music) Melodic ascent and descent of pitch.
Resolution
The resolving or concluding of a dispute or disagreement.
Motion
(Law) An application made to a court for an order or a ruling.
Resolution
The part of a literary work in which the complications of the plot are resolved or simplified.
Motion
A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures.
Resolution
A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the US Congress.
Motion
A mechanical device or piece of machinery that moves or causes motion; a mechanism.
Resolution
Physics & Chemistry The act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts
The prismatic resolution of sunlight into its spectral colors.
Motion
The movement or action of such a device.
Resolution
The clarity or fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image, often measured as the number or the density of the discrete units, such as pixels or dots, that compose it.
Motion
To direct by making a gesture
Motioned us to our seats.
Resolution
(Medicine) The subsiding or termination of an abnormal condition, such as a fever or inflammation.
Motion
To indicate by making a gesture; signal
Motioned that he was ready.
Resolution
The progression of a dissonant tone or chord to a consonant tone or chord.
Motion
To make a motion (that something should happen).
Resolution
The tone or chord to which such a progression is made.
Motion
To signal by making a gesture
Motioned to her to enter.
Resolution
The substitution of one metrical unit for another, especially the substitution of two short syllables for one long syllable in quantitative verse.
Motion
(uncountable) A state of progression from one place to another.
Resolution
A strong will, determination.
Motion
(countable) A change of position with respect to time.
Resolution
The state of being resolute.
His stalwart resolution is perhaps admirable, perhaps foolish.
Motion
(physics) A change from one place to another.
Resolution
A statement of intent, a vow
By February, most New Year's resolutions are forgotten.
My resolution is to cut back on the fast food this year.
Motion
(countable) A parliamentary action to propose something. A similar procedure in any official or business meeting.
The motion to amend is now open for discussion.
Resolution
The act of discerning detail.
Motion
(obsolete) An entertainment or show, especially a puppet show.
Resolution
(computing, photography) The degree of fineness with which an image can be recorded or produced, often expressed as the number of pixels per unit of length (typically an inch).
Printing at higher resolution will cause a reduction in performance.
Motion
(philosophy) from κίνησις (kinesis); any change. Traditionally of four types: generation and corruption, alteration, augmentation and diminution, and change of place.
Resolution
(computing) The number of pixels in an image being stored or displayed.
This monitor's maximum resolution is 1600 × 1200.
Motion
Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
Resolution
(computing) The process of determining the meaning of a symbol or address; lookup.
Name resolution
Motion
(law) A formal request, oral or written, made to a judge or court of law to obtain an official court ruling or order for a legal action to be taken by, or on behalf of, the movant.
Resolution
(math) The act or process of solving; solution.
The resolution of an equation
Motion
(euphemistic) A movement of the bowels; the product of such movement.
Resolution
A formal statement adopted by an assembly, or during any other formal meeting.
The resolution was passed by a two-thirds majority.
Motion
(music) Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts. (Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is when parts move in the same direction.)
Resolution
(sciences) The separation of the constituent parts (of a spectrum etc).
Motion
(obsolete) A puppet, or puppet show.
Resolution
(sciences) The degree of fineness of such a separation.
Motion
(mechanical engineering) A piece of moving mechanism, such as on a steam locomotive.
Resolution
(music) Progression from dissonance to consonance; a chord to which such progression is made.
Motion
To gesture indicating a desired movement.
He motioned for me to come closer.
Resolution
(literature) The moment in which the conflict ends and the outcome of the action is clear.
Motion
(proscribed) To introduce a motion in parliamentary procedure.
Resolution
(medicine) In a pathological process, the phase during which pathogens and damaged tissues are removed by macrophages.
Motion
To make a proposal; to offer plans.
Resolution
The act, operation, or process of resolving.
The unraveling and resolution of the difficulties that are met with in the execution of the design are the end of an action.
Motion
The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; - opposed to rest.
Speaking or mute, all comeliness and graceattends thee, and each word, each motion, forms.
Resolution
The state of being relaxed; relaxation.
Motion
Power of, or capacity for, motion.
Devoid of sense and motion.
Resolution
The state of being resolved, settled, or determined; firmness; steadiness; constancy; determination.
Be it with resolution then to fight.
Motion
Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east.
In our proper motion we ascend.
Resolution
That which is resolved or determined; a settled purpose; determination. Specifically: A formal expression of the opinion or will of an official body or a public assembly, adopted by vote; as, a legislative resolution; the resolutions of a public meeting.
Motion
Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts.
This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion.
Resolution
The state of being resolved or firm in opinion or thought; conviction; assurance.
Little resolution and certainty there is as touching the islands of Mauritania.
Motion
Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity.
Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God.
Resolution
The act or process of solving; solution; as, the resolution of an equation or problem.
Motion
A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn.
Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
Resolution
A breaking up, disappearance; or termination, as of a fever, a tumor, or the like.
Motion
An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.
Resolution
The passing of a dissonant into a consonant chord by the rising or falling of the note which makes the discord.
Motion
Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same part or in groups of parts.
The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute counterpoint.
Resolution
The act of distinguishing between two close but not identical objects, or, when taking a measurement, bbetween two close values of the property measured.
Motion
A puppet show or puppet.
What motion's this? the model of Nineveh?
Resolution
A measure of the ability to distinguish between two close but not identical values of the property being measured; it is expressed as the difference in values of a property necessary to make such a distinction; as, a microscope with a resolution of one micron; a thermometer with a resolution of one-tenth of a degree. Also called resolving power.
Motion
To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat.
Resolution
A formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
Motion
To make proposal; to offer plans.
Resolution
The ability of a microscope or telescope to measure the angular separation of images that are close together
Motion
To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head; as, to motion one to a seat.
Resolution
The trait of being resolute; firmness of purpose;
His resoluteness carried him through the battle
It was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work
Motion
To propose; to move.
I want friends to motion such a matter.
Resolution
Finding a solution to a problem
Motion
A natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
Resolution
Something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making;
The finally reached a settlement with the union
They never did achieve a final resolution of their differences
He needed to grieve before he could achieve a sense of closure
Motion
The use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
Resolution
Analysis into clear-cut components
Motion
A change of position that does not entail a change of location;
The reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise
Movement is a sign of life
An impatient move of his hand
Gastrointestinal motility
Resolution
(computer science) the number of pixels per square inch on a computer-generated display; the greater the resolution, the better the picture
Motion
A state of change;
They were in a state of steady motion
Resolution
The subsidence of swelling or others signs of inflammation (especially in a lung)
Motion
A formal proposal for action made to a deliberative assembly for discussion and vote;
He made a motion to adjourn
She called for the question
Resolution
(music) a dissonant chord is followed by a consonant chord
Motion
The act of changing location from one place to another;
Police controlled the motion of the crowd
The movement of people from the farms to the cities
His move put him directly in my path
Resolution
A statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem;
They were trying to find a peaceful solution
The answers were in the back of the book
He computed the result to four decimal places
Motion
An optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving object;
The cinema relies on apparent motion
The succession of flashing lights gave an illusion of movement
Resolution
A decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner;
He always wrote down his New Year's resolutions
Motion
Show, express or direct through movement;
He gestured his desire to leave
Resolution
The unfolding or solution of a complicated issue in a story.
The novel had an unexpected resolution in its final chapter.
Motion
The action or process of moving or being moved.
The motion of the swing was rhythmic and soothing.
Motion
The changing position of an object over time.
The motion of planets around the sun is elliptical.
Motion
A gesture or signal.
With a simple motion of his hand, he beckoned her closer.
Common Curiosities
How is resolution related to image quality?
Resolution indicates the clarity or fineness of detail in an image, with higher resolution equating to better quality.
Can motion be both voluntary and involuntary?
Yes, motion can be voluntary, like walking, or involuntary, like the beating of a heart.
How is motion used in a legal context?
In law, a motion is a formal request made to a judge for an order or judgment.
What does motion mean in physics?
In physics, motion refers to the change in position of an object over time.
Is resolution always about decisions?
No, resolution can also refer to image clarity, the ending of a story, or resolving disputes, among other meanings.
Can motion refer to emotional or abstract movement?
Yes, motion can be used metaphorically to describe changes in emotional states or abstract concepts.
What does "resolution of a conflict" mean?
It means finding a solution or agreement to end or settle a conflict.
Why is screen resolution important for graphic designers?
Higher screen resolution allows graphic designers to see finer details and produce clearer, more refined designs.
How does motion relate to speed?
Motion describes the act of moving, while speed quantifies how fast an object is moving.
What is the difference between motion and action?
While both relate to movement, motion is a broader term describing any movement, whereas action often implies a purposeful movement or deed.
Are motions always approved in meetings?
No, motions are proposed and then voted upon; they may be approved or denied based on majority decision.
What's a common use of the term resolution around New Year?
Around New Year, many people make "New Year's Resolutions" which are firm decisions to achieve certain goals.
Can both motion and resolution refer to legislative processes?
Yes, in legislative contexts, a motion proposes an action, while a resolution expresses a formal decision or opinion.
Is the resolution in stories always positive?
No, a resolution in a story simply refers to its conclusion, which can be positive, negative, or neutral.
How does resolution relate to determination?
When referring to personal decisions, resolution can mean a strong determination or commitment to a particular course of action.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
