To march means to walk with regular, measured steps, usually in a group with everyone moving together in rhythm. When soldiers march in formation, their feet hit the ground at the same time, creating a steady, powerful sound. School bands march down streets during parades, keeping their steps synchronized with the drumbeat.

The word suggests purpose, determination, and unity. When protesters march through city streets to support a cause they believe in, they're showing solidarity and resolve. Civil rights activists marched from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 to demand voting rights, and their determined march helped change history.

You can also march alone when you're moving with determination. A student who gets sent to the principal's office might march down the hallway with heavy, deliberate steps. Time itself can march onward, meaning it moves forward steadily and unstoppably.

A march (as a noun) can also mean a piece of music with a strong, steady beat designed to help people march in step. John Philip Sousa composed famous marches like “The Stars and Stripes Forever” that bands still play today. The music's regular rhythm makes it almost impossible not to tap your foot or nod your head along with it.