Meaning & use
faith moving mountains
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A phrase meaning that strong belief or determination can make very difficult things possible.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase or saying; often in the pattern 'have faith moving mountains' or 'it was faith moving mountains'.
Patterns
- have faith moving mountains
- it was faith moving mountains
- faith moving mountains can ...
She had faith moving mountains, and somehow the tiny charity built a whole school.
It was faith moving mountains that kept the team going after every rejection.
His belief in the project was like faith moving mountains; nothing could stop him.
phrasefixed phrase
Used to describe a seemingly impossible achievement that was made possible by strong belief or effort.
Grammar: Often follows 'it was' or 'that was' to comment on a surprising result.
Patterns
- it was faith moving mountains
- that was faith moving mountains
- like faith moving mountains
Getting the whole town to agree was faith moving mountains.
It was faith moving mountains that turned the empty lot into a community garden.
The way she recovered was faith moving mountains.
Common combinations
- have faith moving mountains
- You need to have faith moving mountains if you want to change the system.
- it was faith moving mountains
- It was faith moving mountains that got us through the crisis.
- like faith moving mountains
- Their determination was like faith moving mountains.
- a case of faith moving mountains
- The rescue was a case of faith moving mountains.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mind over matter
- This focuses on the power of the mind rather than belief or faith, and is often used for physical challenges.
- where there's a will, there's a way
- This is a more general proverb about determination; 'faith moving mountains' specifically mentions belief or faith.
Commonly confused: faith moving mountains or faith can move mountains?
faith moving mountains vs faith can move mountains
This is the more common full proverb; 'faith moving mountains' is a shortened, often descriptive form.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase uses the plural 'mountains' and the -ing form 'moving': 'faith moving mountains'. Option 2 uses singular 'mountain', option 3 uses 'move' without -ing, and option 4 adds 'to' incorrectly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “faith moving mountains”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.