motive
noun
something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
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motive
1 American
[moh-tiv]
/ ˈmoʊ tɪv /
noun
-
motives
plural
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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
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the goal or object of a person's actions.
Her motive was revenge.
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(in art, literature, and music) a motif.
adjective
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causing, or tending to cause, motion.
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pertaining to motion.
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prompting to action.
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constituting a motive or motives.
verb (used with object)
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motives,
present (3rd person singular)
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motived,
past participle, past
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motiving
present participle
-motive
2
American
motive
British
/ ˈməʊtɪv /
noun
-
the reason for a certain course of action, whether conscious or unconscious
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a variant of motif
adjective
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of or causing motion or action
a motive force
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of or acting as a motive; motivating
verb
Usage
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.
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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motivesimple
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motivessimple
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have motivedperfect
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has motivedperfect
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am motivingprogressive
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are motivingprogressive
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is motivingprogressive
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have been motivingperfect progressive
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has been motivingperfect progressive
Past
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motivedsimple
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had motivedperfect
-
was motivingprogressive
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were motivingprogressive
-
had been motivingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of motive
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”; see move) + -īvus -ive; noun derivative of the adjective
Explanation
Your reason for doing something is your motive. Your motive to go to school every day is to learn. Or maybe the thought of your parents' anger and a run-in with the truant officer is motive enough. The word motive comes from the Latin words motivus, meaning moving, and movere, meaning to move. Think of motive as the thing that moves you to act. You often hear of motive in the context of crime––a suspect’s fingerprints may be on the murder weapon, but a detective won’t understand the crime until he understands the motive. What made the killer act?
Vocabulary lists containing motive
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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The New SAT: The Language of the Test
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for December 26, 2020—January 1, 2021
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The useful motive is the one everyone thinks of first: I need that potato peeler.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
"It is neither their purpose nor their motive, theirs is to maximise profits. We cannot and will not allow that to come at the expense of our children or indeed humanity," he continued.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
British authorities have not publicly identified a motive or said who they believe was behind the alleged plot.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Authorities didn’t name the men or provide details about a possible motive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
Yes, I was moved—I, Van Helsing, with all my purpose and with my motive for hate—I was moved to a yearning for delay which seemed to paralyse my faculties and to clog my very soul.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
“At this juncture,” he said, “I will respectfully refrain from engaging in speculation as to the prosecution’s reasons or motives for their decision to dismiss the felony case against Mr. Lopez.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Even if your brother-in-law’s motives are entirely honorable, the proposed arrangement leaves the parents in a remarkably vulnerable financial position.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
“Investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances, motives, and any links related to the incident, as well as to complete technical examinations and analysis of physical and digital evidence,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
The latest claims are once again highly personal in their attacks on King Charles and the royals, interpreting their motives in a very harsh light.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
And she wonders why I think she has ulterior motives when she's being nice.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Hong Kong has become a focus under heightened US-China tensions, which motived him to pay more attention to international affairs, Kam said.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 15, 2023
“I said my philosophy is motived by the Beatitudes and by Matthew 25:40 about the ‘least of these,’” Mr. Kennedy recounted.
From New York Times ● Oct. 24, 2022
“I think that’s why I have useful expertise in trying to solve problems, and am motived to work hard with other stakeholders on consensus solutions.”
From Washington Post ● Oct. 23, 2017
Here are 21 inspiring quotes that will get you hyped up and keep you motived as an entrepreneur.
From Time ● Aug. 18, 2015
But, as we have already said, the contemplative life is motived by the affective faculties, and consequently love of God and of our neighbour are required for the contemplative life.
From On Prayer and The Contemplative Life by Hugh Pope
Her conception of a play of passion forbids motiving of character, or integration of the development of character with action.
From Tragedy by Ashley H. Thorndike
But your Lamia has taught you some subtle 'viperine' reasoning and motiving, for the turning down one street instead of another.
From The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 by Robert Browning
And through all the talk, through the busy routine of the place, in the men and women working in the hospital, there emerged always that something unseen,—Idea, Will, Spirit, the motiving force of the whole.
From Together by Robert Herrick
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