motive

¹

[ moh-tiv ]

noun

1. something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.

   Synonyms: cause, ground, occasion, influence, spur, stimulus, incitement, motivation

2. the goal or object of a person's actions:

   Her motive was revenge.

3. (in art, literature, and music) a motif.

adjective

1. causing, or tending to cause, motion.
2. pertaining to motion.
3. prompting to action.
4. constituting a motive or motives.

verb (used with object)

, mo·tived, mo·tiv·ing.

1. to motivate.

-motive

²

1. a combining form of motive:

   automotive.

motive

/ ˈməʊtɪv /

noun

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

adjective

1. of or causing motion or action

   a motive force

2. of or acting as a motive; motivating

verb

1. to motivate

Derived Forms

• ˈmotivelessness, noun
• ˈmotivelessly, adverb
• ˈmotiveless, adjective

Other Words From

• motive·less adjective
• motive·less·ly adverb
• motive·less·ness noun
• well-motived adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of motive¹

First recorded in 1325–75; (for the adjective) Middle English, from Middle French motif, from Medieval Latin mōtīvus “serving to move,” from Latin mōt(us) “moved” (past participle of movēre “to move”; move ) + -īvus -ive; noun derivative of the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of motive¹

C14: from Old French motif, from Late Latin mōtīvus (adj) moving, from Latin mōtus, past participle of movēre to move

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.

Example Sentences

But, Google’s oblique communication about this change has left the door open for skepticism about its motives.

From Search Engine Land

Changing the name scheme of modern math might imply a change in motive force, but if that change discouraged some people, it might welcome others in.

From Nautilus

There are those who try to cloak their motives in the trappings of science by claiming they are taking the scientific posture of doubt.

From Nautilus

Poets, detectives, and lawyers have long sifted through people’s language for clues to look for their motives and inner truths.

From MIT Technology Review

That’s okay if you don’t have the right motives or anything significant to add value for your audience.

From Search Engine Watch

Marx forecast that the profit motive would lead to overworking and exhausting the fertility of our soil and other natural systems.

From The Daily Beast

I think a misconception everybody has is that I had an ulterior motive.

From The Daily Beast

Did Michael Brown have a motive to violently attack the officer?

From The Daily Beast

The story remains mysterious, and authorities are not revealing a motive yet.

From The Daily Beast

Communist-era clerks were famously rude and indifferent, because they had no motive to make people happy.

From The Daily Beast

The voice of the orator peculiarly should be free from studied effects, and responsive to motive.

From Project Gutenberg

Not suspecting her motive, he represented the hazard of putting so great an affront on the favourite of the Empress.

From Project Gutenberg

The wish to go to heaven without dying is, as I know, a motive derived from child-life.

From Project Gutenberg

But her parents, did you never discover any thing about them—who or what they were—the motive of so strange an abandonment?

From Project Gutenberg

Whatever was his motive, he persisted in his resolution, and to the end was faithful to his oath.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aim
• cause
• consideration
• emotion
• feeling
• idea
• impulse
• influence
• intent
• intention
• motivation
• passion
• rationale

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 mōtīvus, 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.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to motive?

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

What are some synonyms for motive?

• aim
• cause
• feeling
• motivation
• rationale

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

• motion
• motivate

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

• crime
• hidden
• reward
• ulterior

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) May 26, 2016

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) May 20, 2016

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) December 5, 2017

 

Try using motive!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for motive?

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