moves the needle

A form of move the needle — To change a situation to a noticeable degree; to make an appreciable difference.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of move the needle
Cite this entry
APA

moves the needle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moves%20the%20needle

MLA

“moves the needle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moves%20the%20needle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “moves the needle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moves%20the%20needle.

Source: moves the needle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.