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- DictionaryMo·tive/ˈmōdiv/
noun
- 1. a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious: "a motive for his murder"
- 2. (in art, literature, or music) a motif: "the entire work grows organically from the opening horn motive"
adjective
- 1. producing physical or mechanical motion: "the charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke"
- 2. causing or being the reason for something: "the motive principle of a writer's work"
MOTIVE meaning: 1. a reason for doing something: 2. (of power or force) causing movement or action 3. a reason for…. Learn more.
3 days ago · SYNONYMS 1. motivation, incitement, stimulus, spur; influence, occasion, ground, cause. 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 ...
1. (Psychology) the reason for a certain course of action, whether conscious or unconscious. 2. (Art Terms) a variant of motif 2. adj. 3. of or causing motion or action: a motive force. 4. of or acting as a motive; motivating. vb ( tr) to motivate.
noun. the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior. “he acted with the best of motives ”. synonyms: motivation, need. see more. adjective. causing or able to cause motion. “a motive force”. “ motive power”.
motive (for something) a reason for doing something. There seemed to be no motive for the murder. I'm suspicious of his motives. the profit motive (= the desire to make a profit) I have an ulterior motive in offering to help you. Synonyms reason.
May 1, 2024 · An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action. [from 15th c.] Synonym: motivation. 1947, Malcolm Lowry, Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock:
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English mo‧tive1 /ˈməʊtɪv $ ˈmoʊ-/ AWL noun [ countable] 1 the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden What do you suppose the killer’s motive was? motive for (doing) something The police believe the motive for this murder was jealousy. motive behind The motiv...
