A motion recognizing apparatus and method are provided. According to an aspect, a motion recognizing apparatus may include: an optical sensor configured to sense at least a portion of a subject where a motion occurs and to output one or more events in response thereto; a motion tracing unit configured to trace a motion locus of the portion where the motion occurs based on the one or more outputted events; and a motion pattern determining unit configured to determine a motion pattern of the portion where the motion occurs based on the traced motion locus.