This research paper investigates the differences in the behavior of motion verbs in English and Arabic, employing dictionaries and the novel “Eighty Days Around the World” as data sources. The study adopts Talmy’s theoretical framework, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these two languages encode and express motion events. The analysis reveals distinct lexicalization patterns, with English emphasizing specific motion verbs and manner of motion, while Arabic relies more on general verbs and the path or direction of movement. Dictionaries are therefore a valuable resource that can enable the identification and categorization of motion verbs in both languages. The textual analysis of “Eighty Days Around the World” further contributes contextual examples on how motion events are expressed in English and Arabic narratives. The results help to reveal syntactic features of motion verbs, reflecting the typological distinctions between the two languages. It is this light that the research will add value to cross-linguistic studies and open more doors for exploration into the complexities of English and Arabic motion verb behavior.