<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001085770</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOVE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MOVE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211665</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANDERSON FRED D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2800 SAND HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 260</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Convertible Participating Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.2</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>675.33</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-11-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>160792</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>119017.82</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Elevation Ptrs LP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Convertible Participating Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.2</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0.14</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-11-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26.18</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Elevation Emp Side Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject to anti-dilution adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Series B Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &quot;Series B Preferred Stock&quot;), of Move, Inc.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These are shares that have been issued as a quarterly in-kind dividend in accordance with the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Series B Preferred Stock is mandatorily redeemable on the seventh anniversary of the original issuance date. The Series B Preferred Stock is also subject to earlier redemption, repurchase or mandatory conversion in accordance with the terms thereof.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This is the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (&quot;Issuer Common Stock&quot;), of Move, Inc. issuable upon conversion with respect to the amount in column 5 as of the date of this filing. Pursuant to the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, no fractional shares of Issuer Common Stock will be issued upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock. Fractional shares of Series B Preferred Stock will, however, be issued with respect to any quarterly in-kind dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These securities are held by Elevation Employee Side Fund, LLC (&quot;Side Fund&quot;). Mr. Anderson is a manager of Elevation Management, LLC which is the sole managing member of Side Fund. Mr. Anderson disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in his distributive share therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These securities are held by Elevation Partners, L.P. (&quot;Elevation Partners&quot;). Mr. Anderson is a manager of Elevation Associates, LLC which is the sole general partner of Elevation Associates, L.P. (&quot;Elevation GP&quot;). Elevation GP is the sole general partner of Elevation Partners. Mr. Anderson disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in his distributive share therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Tracy Hogan, Attorney-in-Fact for Fred D. Anderson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
