motive

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The reason that makes a person do something, especially something wrong.

   Grammar: Often followed by for: a motive for the crime.

   Patterns

   • a motive for something
   • motive behind something

   The police could not find a motive for the burglary.

   Money was her motive for taking the job.

   What was his motive in lying to us?

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounformaltechnical

   Causing movement or action.

   Grammar: Formal; used before a noun: motive power.

   Patterns

   • motive power
   • motive force

   Steam was the motive power of early trains.

   Hope is the motive force behind their campaign.

   The motive energy came from a small engine.

Word forms

Common combinations

a motive for

Jealousy was a strong motive for the attack.

ulterior motive

I suspect he has an ulterior motive for helping.

question someone's motives

Don't question her motives; she only wants to help.

the motive behind

The motive behind the donation remains unclear.

profit motive

The profit motive drives many businesses.

establish a motive

Detectives are trying to establish a motive.

Synonyms and how they differ

reason

Reason is the everyday and neutral word, while motive suggests a deeper personal drive.

incentive

Incentive is something offered to encourage action, not necessarily the inner cause.

purpose

Purpose looks forward to the goal, whereas motive looks at the cause of the action.

grounds

Grounds is the more formal and legal term for a valid reason.

Word family

motivate verb

to give someone a reason to act

motivation noun

the drive to act

motivated adjective

eager to act

motivational adjective

giving encouragement

motivator noun

a person or thing that motivates

Commonly confused: motive or motif? motive or motive?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “motive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words