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motive Definition

mo·tive (mōt′iv)

noun

  1. some inner drive, impulse, intention, etc. that causes a person to do something or act in a certain way; incentive; goal
  2. motif (sense )

Etymology: ME motif < OFr motif (adj.) < ML motivus, moving < L motus, pp. of movere, to move

adjective

  1. of, causing, or tending to cause motion
  2. Rare of, or having the nature of, a motive or motives

Etymology: ML motivus

transitive verb -·tived, -·tiv·ing

to supply a motive for; motivate

motive Related Forms

mo′·tive·less adjective

motive Synonyms

motive

n.

incentive, cause, purpose, object, inducement, aim, goal, motivation, incitement, stimulus, rationale, basis, ground, occasion, consideration, idea, impulse, lure, spur, goad, what makes one tick*, angle*; see also cause 1, incentive, reason 3. See syn. study at cause.

motive Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • ascribe: In this sense, they too hastily ascribe a purely economic motive to the present cultural studies ' boom ' .
  • suspect: To be honest, I suspect the motives of people who smile too much.
  • expose: He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.
  • hide: This novel explores the often hidden motives of those who choose to work for the holiday companies - the reps.
  • reveal: Like Flaubert, Eça was concerned with revealing the detailed psychological motives behind his character's behavior.

Adjective modifier

  • ulterior: They think I must have an ulterior motive: Why have you come to see me?
  • selfish: Work for God must be without any selfish motive or the crown will slip from the hand.
  • altruistic: Doctors and lawyers are not driven solely by altruistic motives.
  • sinister: Here he is visibly wishing to unmask sinister motives.
  • impure: Muhammad's impure motives now threatened his own family!
  • unworthy: Unable to put together any sort of defense for an incompetent government, you are forced to invent an unworthy motive for my criticisms.

Modifies a noun

  • depot: These terraces were built for the workers at the adjacent Mold Junction motive power depot, closed in 1966.
  • power: These terraces were built for the workers at the adjacent Mold Junction motive power depot, closed in 1966.
  • force: Higher the shaft, larger cross sectional area, greater the T, greater the motive force, the more air will be moved.

Noun used with modifier

  • profit: The profit motive test should not be applied here.
  • proton: The energy from the proton motive force is required to prise the ATP from the active center.
  • avoidance: Those affected feel that the Revenue is perceiving a tax avoidance motive when the primary reasons for using such structures are commercial.

Preposition: of

bomber: The Prime Minister's wife famously talked sympathetically about the motives of suicide bombers.

Preposition: for

  • killing: But trial judge Mr Justice Richards ruled out a racial motive for the killing.
  • murder: But is a jolly good time at new years really enough motive for murder?