Abstract Mesoscale eddies are crucial for global heat and tracer transport, yet the mechanisms underlying their meridional movement remain unclear. Here, we combine satellite observations, idealized numerical experiments, and theoretical modeling to investigate these mechanisms. We demonstrate that the meridional eddy movement is strongly linked to the advection by large scale circulation. The eddy meridional propagation patterns in most ocean basins are determined by wind‐driven circulation via Sverdrup dynamics, while in the regions as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) strongly with topographic steering circulation. Changes in eddy relative vorticity throughout their lifecycle further influence meridional trajectories, especially during growth and decay phases. A PV‐based dynamical framework is further applied to quantitatively incorporate these mechanisms and aligns well with observations. This framework provides a robust diagnostic tool for understanding and predicting global meridional eddy propagation, improving our ability to assess eddy impacts on climate variability and marine ecosystems.