move in / move out — start or leave living somewhere (Murphy Unit 138, in/out)
Pattern
Section titled “Pattern”move in = start living in a place (move your belongings in). move out = leave a place / stop living there.
- I’ve found somewhere to live. I moved in last week. (started living there)
- They moved out of the old flat. (left it)
The pair
Section titled “The pair”| Phrasal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| move in | start living somewhere | We moved in last month. |
| move out | leave / stop living somewhere | She moved out last year. |
| move in with | start living with someone | He moved in with his girlfriend. |
| move out of | leave a specific place | They moved out of the apartment. |
Distinguish from other “in/out” phrasals
Section titled “Distinguish from other “in/out” phrasals”| Phrasal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| move in | start living somewhere | I moved in last week. |
| check in | register (hotel/airport) | We checked in at noon. |
| dive in | jump in / start eagerly | She dived in the pool. |
| get out | escape / leave | Get out of here! |
| look out | watch out / face | Look out! / The window looks out on the park. |
Test application
Section titled “Test application”I’ve found somewhere to live. I ___ last week.
Answer: moved in — started living there last week. “Found somewhere to live” = found a place → the next step is moving in.
Why not the others?
- dive in — jump in water, not housing
- moved out — opposite (leaving), contradicts “found somewhere to live”
- checked in — hotel registration, not permanent housing
- got out — escaped/left
- looked out — watched out
- moved in ✓ — started living
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use (4th ed.), Unit 138 — Phrasal verbs in/out. Ebot lesson 2026-08-29: “I’ve found somewhere to live. I ___ last week” → moved in.