motive
noun
something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
motives
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pluralof motive.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof motive (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
motivenounsomething that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.
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.
Confused about a character's motives or the historical setting?
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
How can we not wonder about ulterior motives?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
In Hamawy’s case, it led to suspicions about his past and true motives that was effective enough for his eventual primary win to be deemed “controversial.”
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
The video went viral, as did speculation about Mr. Cabello’s motives for blocking the emergency assistance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Even my motives seem murky at the moment.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
