MOTIVE Definition & Meaning

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motive

[ moh-tiv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
Synonyms: , , , , , , ,
the goal or object of a person's actions:
Her motive was revenge.
(in art, literature, and music) a motif.

adjective

causing, or tending to cause, motion.
pertaining to motion.
prompting to action.
constituting a motive or motives.

verb (used with object)

motived, motiving.

to motivate.

-motive

a combining form of motive:
automotive.

motive

/ ˈ��əʊ��ɪ�� /

noun

the reason for a certain course of action, whether conscious or unconscious
a variant of motif

adjective

of or causing motion or action
a motive force
of or acting as a motive; motivating

verb

to motivate

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Derived Forms

ˈ��ǳپ��Ա��, noun
ˈ��ǳپ��, adverb
ˈ��ǳپ��, adjective

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��t��·�� adjective
��t��·��·ly adverb
��t��·��·ness noun
�ɱ��-��t�� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of motive¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (for the adjective) Middle English, from Middle French motif, from Medieval Latin ��ō��ī��ܲ� “serving to move,” from Latin ��ō��(�ܲ�) “moved” (past participle of ��Ǳ�ŧ�� “to move”; move ) + -ī��ܲ� -ive; noun derivative of the adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of motive¹

C14: from Old French motif, from Late Latin ��ō��ī��ܲ� (adj) moving, from Latin ��ō�ٳܲ�, past participle of ��Ǳ�ŧ�� to move

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Synonym Study

Motive, incentive, inducement apply to whatever moves one to action. Motive is, literally, something that moves a person; an inducement, something that leads a person on; an incentive, something that inspires a person. Motive is applied mainly to an inner urge that moves or prompts a person to action, though it may also apply to a contemplated result, the desire for which moves the person: His motive was a wish to be helpful. Inducement is never applied to an inner urge, and seldom to a goal: The pleasure of wielding authority may be an inducement to get ahead. It is used mainly of opportunities offered by the acceptance of certain conditions, whether these are offered by a second person or by the factors of the situation: The salary offered me was a great inducement. Incentive was once used of anything inspiring or stimulating the emotions or imagination: incentives to piety; it has retained of this its emotional connotations, but (rather like inducement ) is today applied only to something offered as a reward, and offered particularly to stimulate competitive activity: to create incentives for higher achievement. See reason.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I worry that Pornchai has alterior motives when he rushed to have her stay and open a spa in Thailand, but I think the Russians will corner the market on the grift.

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While some Indian users said they were delighted to see Altman sporting their team's colours, many were quick to speculate about his motives behind sharing the image.

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But there’s an ulterior motive at play, according to Bruce.

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"But I had other motives that made me happy. I was a working actor and for me, that was most important."

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Police say the motive behind the attack is "under investigation" but they are considering the possibility that the suspect - who has not been officially identified - may have chosen victims at random.

From

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More About Motive

What does motive mean?

A motive is something that causes a person to act in a certain way, as in Luciana’s motive for studying was the F she got on the last exam.

A motive can also be the reward or benefit received for completing an action in a certain way or time, as in Yosef’s motive for signing up for the hike was to climb to the top of the mountain.

Motive can also describe something as relating to motion or movement, such as a motive engine. A common misuse of this form is auto motive. The term automotive comes from the term, but it is a standalone word, not a phrase.

Example: We need to identify a motive before we can continue investigating.

Where does motive come from?

The first records of the term motive come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Medieval Latin ��ō��ī��ܲ�, meaning “serving to move.” A motive serves to move something through motivation.

Motive is often used in criminal justice and crime drama, where the reason a crime has been committed is believed to help determine who committed the crime. A common trope in crime drama is the ulterior motive, that is, a hidden or secret motive. People are sometimes said to have ulterior motives when they do something nice or unexpected of them, even if it is bad, in order to gain some benefit that is hidden from view. We prefer to think if someone does something nice for us, their only motive is being nice.

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What are some other forms related to motive?

motiveless (adjective)
motivelessly (adverb)
motivelessness (noun)
well-motived (adjective)

What are some synonyms for motive?

What are some words that share a root or word element with motive?��

What are some words that often get used in discussing motive?

How is motive used in real life?

Motive is used in a variety of circumstances, from serious to casual.

Money shouldn't be the motive

— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier)

It's unfortunate that we live in a generation where people think there's either a motive behind a relationship or too good to be true

— Catherine McBroom (@CatherinePaiz)

I have to admit, my positive tweets have an ulterior motive. Sure they make you feel better but also (darts a glance side to side) they make me feel better too!

— Travis McElroy, The Internet's Best Friend (@travismcelroy)

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Try using motive!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for motive?

A. influence
B. obstacle
C. rationale
D. aim

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