The moving hydraulic jump, considered as an example of rapidly varied unsteady flow, is theoretically revised. Experimental work is conducted to study the kinematic characteristics of the jump propagation. The position, velocity and conjugate depths of the jump during its propagation either upstream or downstream are investigated and some semi-empirical equations are derived. From this work, some differences are observed between the moving hydraulic jump propagating upstream and downstream. A phenomenon called extinction of the moving hydraulic jump is reported in the latter case. This phenomenon is explained on the grounds of previous theoretical analysis.