motive
gb/mˈoʊtɪv/ us/mˈoʊtɪv/
B1
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Reason for an action
The reason why someone does something.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s motive for [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'motive' with 'motivation'. 'Motive' is the specific reason for an action, while 'motivation' can mean general desire or willingness.
Synonyms
reason (More general term for why something is done; less often implies secrecy or suspicion.)
|
purpose (More formal or abstract term, often without negative connotation.)
Antonyms
disinterest (Lack of personal reason or stake in doing something.)
Collocations
hidden motive
|political motive
|financial motive
|question someone's motive
|have a motive
Themes
emotions
|crime
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- The police are still trying to determine the killer's motive.
- Her motive for volunteering was to gain experience.
- He had no financial motive for the crime.
- Some questioned the company's motive for donating money.
- The detective searched for a possible motive behind the attack.
Learner examples
- The police do not know the motive.
- I think his motive is to help people.
- She told me her motive for moving to the city.
- They want to find the motive for the crime.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
2
Recurring theme in art/music
A short part of music or art that repeats and is important.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'motive' with 'motif', which is the more common spelling for this artistic sense.
Synonyms
theme (Broader term; may refer to longer or more complex ideas in art or music.)
Collocations
musical motive
|recurring motive
|central motive
Themes
music
|art
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- The composer used a simple four-note motive throughout the symphony.
- A recurring floral motive appears in her paintings.
- The novel's central motive is the search for identity.
Learner examples
- The song has a short motive that repeats.
- There is a flower motive in the design.
- This story has a love motive that comes again and again.
Grammar
Dictionary form
motive
IPA
GB/mˈoʊtɪv/
US/mˈoʊtɪv/
Syllables & stress
motive (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (motive)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: motive
- Plural: motives
Word family
Forms
motives
noun
Core family
Related words
motivator
noun
motivating
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unmotivated
adjective
demotivate
verb
demotivating
adjective
Advanced or less common
motiveless
adjective
Expressions
motive power
1/mˈoʊtɪv pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Power that moves machinery
Energy or force that makes a machine or vehicle move.
Examples
- Steam engines provided the motive power for early trains.
- Electricity is now the main source of motive power in factories.