march on
B1 neutral inseparable both
In simple words
Keep moving forward without stopping; walk together toward a place to protest.
Literal meaning: To physically march (walk in formation) and continue onward — both the literal and figurative meanings share this core.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To continue moving forward steadily, especially used of time, history, or progress.
"Whatever happens, time marches on and we have to adapt."
"Time marches on, and sooner or later you have to be ready."
— Commonly attributed to various speakers; used by Winston Churchill in wartime addresses
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral
To walk as a group toward a place, especially as a form of protest or military advance.
"Thousands of demonstrators marched on the parliament building."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
In the intransitive sense ('time marches on'), commonly used to express the unstoppable passage of time. In the transitive/directional sense ('march on the capital'), it describes a deliberate collective advance.
Commonly used with
time capital city parliament history troops
Forms
Base
march on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
marches on
he/she/it
Past simple
marched on
yesterday
Past participle
marched on
have + pp
-ing form
marching on
continuous
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Synonyms
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