Motive
noun
A reason for doing something.
Her motive for learning English was to improve her career prospects.
Often appears as...
- ulterior motive
- hidden motive
adjective
Causing or being the reason for something.
An increase in salary was a motive factor in his decision to change jobs.
Often appears as...
- motive force
- motive power
noun
A theme or idea in a work of art or literature.
The author uses the recurring motive of redemption throughout his book.
Often appears as...
- recurring motive
- central motive
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
noun
A reason for doing something.
Her motive for learning English was to improve her career prospects.
Often appears as...
- ulterior motive
- hidden motive
adjective
Causing or being the reason for something.
An increase in salary was a motive factor in his decision to change jobs.
Often appears as...
- motive force
- motive power
noun
A theme or idea in a work of art or literature.
The author uses the recurring motive of redemption throughout his book.
Often appears as...
- recurring motive
- central motive
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Visible
Motives are often internal and not expressed openly, requiring interpretation of actions.
Despite his generosity, some suspected his motives weren't entirely selfless.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Sensitivity
Be aware that interpretations of 'motive' can vary with cultural context and norms.
In some cultures, personal ambition as a motive might seem selfish.
Pro Tip 3/3Suspicious Motives
'Motive' can imply suspicion, especially when reasons for actions aren't clear.
The detective questioned the suspect's motives for being at the crime scene.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Visible
Motives are often internal and not expressed openly, requiring interpretation of actions.
Despite his generosity, some suspected his motives weren't entirely selfless.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Sensitivity
Be aware that interpretations of 'motive' can vary with cultural context and norms.
In some cultures, personal ambition as a motive might seem selfish.
Pro Tip 3/3Suspicious Motives
'Motive' can imply suspicion, especially when reasons for actions aren't clear.
The detective questioned the suspect's motives for being at the crime scene.
Pro Tip 1/3Not Always Visible
Motives are often internal and not expressed openly, requiring interpretation of actions.
Despite his generosity, some suspected his motives weren't entirely selfless.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Sensitivity
Be aware that interpretations of 'motive' can vary with cultural context and norms.
In some cultures, personal ambition as a motive might seem selfish.
Pro Tip 3/3Suspicious Motives
'Motive' can imply suspicion, especially when reasons for actions aren't clear.
The detective questioned the suspect's motives for being at the crime scene.
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Video examples
The moral roots of...
give some of your own money to punish people who aren't contributing you can do that and as soon as people heard about the punishment issue going on cooperation shoots up it shoots up and it keeps going up there's a lot of research showing that to solve cooperative problems it really helps it's not enough to just appeal to people's good motives it really helps to have some sort of
Video examples
Why wasn’t the Bill of...
their real motives were mostly practical. Changing the constitution when it had already been ratified by some states could complicate the entire process. More importantly, Madison felt that people's rights were already guaranteed through the democratic process, while adding extra provisions risked misinterpretation.
Video examples
I grew up in the...
that even when my words were aggressive and offensive, I sincerely believed I was doing the right thing. Assuming ill motives almost instantly cuts us off from truly understanding why someone does and believes as they do. We forget that they're a human being with a lifetime of experience that shaped their mind,
Video examples
One more reason to get a...
of the ancient world, proposed that while we're awake, our brain's motive force, its juice, would flow out to all the other parts of the body, animating them but leaving the brain all dried up, and he thought that when we sleep, all this moisture that filled the rest of the body would come rushing back,
Video examples
Terrified Monkeys Scared...
usually gives up and goes away motives are drawn by the call from a large area they even drop lower and closer so that they can keep the cattle for review and here they will stay on maximum alert until the leopard finally filled up and leaves them in peace
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
And to look at the stories of inspiration, the stories of humans reaching out to humans, of companies doing incredible things, letting go of the profit motive for a moment, of countries trying to help each other -- there are stories about that.
Video examples
Why should you read...
and what role might he play in the course of justice? These questions are complicated by a tangled web of characters, forcing Hamlet to negotiate friends, family, court counselors, and love interests– many of whom possess ulterior motives.
Video examples
The Unconquered:...
intrusions deep in the Amazon so these were the humanitarians who went out to make contact in order to save these tribes but what happened was no matter how humanitarian the the gesture no matter how good the motives were of the
Video examples
The philosophy of...
of the word “cynic:" a person who thinks everyone else is acting out of pure self-interest, even if they claim a higher motive. Still, the philosophy of cynicism had admirers, especially among those who wished to question
Video examples
The wars that inspired...
spanning generations and involving a massive cast of characters with complex motives and shifting loyalties. If that sounds familiar, it's because the historical conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses
Video examples
The moral roots of...
give some of your own money to punish people who aren't contributing you can do that and as soon as people heard about the punishment issue going on cooperation shoots up it shoots up and it keeps going up there's a lot of research showing that to solve cooperative problems it really helps it's not enough to just appeal to people's good motives it really helps to have some sort of
Video examples
Why wasn’t the Bill of...
their real motives were mostly practical. Changing the constitution when it had already been ratified by some states could complicate the entire process. More importantly, Madison felt that people's rights were already guaranteed through the democratic process, while adding extra provisions risked misinterpretation.
Video examples
I grew up in the...
that even when my words were aggressive and offensive, I sincerely believed I was doing the right thing. Assuming ill motives almost instantly cuts us off from truly understanding why someone does and believes as they do. We forget that they're a human being with a lifetime of experience that shaped their mind,
Video examples
One more reason to get a...
of the ancient world, proposed that while we're awake, our brain's motive force, its juice, would flow out to all the other parts of the body, animating them but leaving the brain all dried up, and he thought that when we sleep, all this moisture that filled the rest of the body would come rushing back,
Video examples
Terrified Monkeys Scared...
usually gives up and goes away motives are drawn by the call from a large area they even drop lower and closer so that they can keep the cattle for review and here they will stay on maximum alert until the leopard finally filled up and leaves them in peace
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
And to look at the stories of inspiration, the stories of humans reaching out to humans, of companies doing incredible things, letting go of the profit motive for a moment, of countries trying to help each other -- there are stories about that.
Video examples
Why should you read...
and what role might he play in the course of justice? These questions are complicated by a tangled web of characters, forcing Hamlet to negotiate friends, family, court counselors, and love interests– many of whom possess ulterior motives.
Video examples
The Unconquered:...
intrusions deep in the Amazon so these were the humanitarians who went out to make contact in order to save these tribes but what happened was no matter how humanitarian the the gesture no matter how good the motives were of the
Video examples
The philosophy of...
of the word “cynic:" a person who thinks everyone else is acting out of pure self-interest, even if they claim a higher motive. Still, the philosophy of cynicism had admirers, especially among those who wished to question
Video examples
The wars that inspired...
spanning generations and involving a massive cast of characters with complex motives and shifting loyalties. If that sounds familiar, it's because the historical conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kazuo Ishiguro
Japanese Author
Many of our deepest motives come, not from an adult logic of how things work in the world, but out of something that is frozen from childhood.
Quote examples
Abraham Lincoln
American President
I believe it is universally understood and acknowledged that all men will ever act correctly, unless they have a motive to do otherwise.
Quote examples
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher
Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
Motives reveal why we do what we do, which is actually more important to God than what we're doing.
Quote examples
Gutzon Borglum
American Sculptor
Nothing in life is without cause and effect. Nothing is merely a shell. Everything has some motive.
Quote examples
Jane Austen
British Writer
I could not sit down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life.
Quote examples
Mao Zedong
Chinese Leader
The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.
Quote examples
Eric Hoffer
American Writer
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
Quote examples
Jean de la Bruyere
French Philosopher
It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.
Quote examples
Kazuo Ishiguro
Japanese Author
Many of our deepest motives come, not from an adult logic of how things work in the world, but out of something that is frozen from childhood.
Quote examples
Abraham Lincoln
American President
I believe it is universally understood and acknowledged that all men will ever act correctly, unless they have a motive to do otherwise.
Quote examples
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher
Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
Motives reveal why we do what we do, which is actually more important to God than what we're doing.
Quote examples
Gutzon Borglum
American Sculptor
Nothing in life is without cause and effect. Nothing is merely a shell. Everything has some motive.
Quote examples
Jane Austen
British Writer
I could not sit down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life.
Quote examples
Mao Zedong
Chinese Leader
The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history.
Quote examples
Eric Hoffer
American Writer
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
Quote examples
Jean de la Bruyere
French Philosopher
It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.
Example 1 of 10
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