Motive Definition & Meaning

motive
adjective
  1. causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy"
  2. impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments"
noun
  1. 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; "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives"
  2. a theme that is repeated or elaborated in a piece of music
  3. a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration

Synonyms for motive

motif noun

a design or figure that consists of recurring shapes or colors, as in architecture or decoration a theme that is

♫ Rhymes
motivating adj

impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap

♫ Rhymes
motivation noun

the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action

♫ Rhymes
motivative adj

impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap

♫ Rhymes
motor adj

conveying information to the muscles from the CNS; "motor nerves" causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force

♫ Rhymes
need noun

a condition requiring relief; "she satisfied his need for affection"; "God has no need of men to accomplish His work

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Motive" in song lyrics

See how motive is used in real songs:

  • "Left an ounce on the scene, now they figure dope was the motive"
    Bootleg — Death Before Dishonesty
  • "The sound of magic ransacks with no motive"
    Drapht f/ Porsah Lane — Can't Escape
  • "Bring ho's out the closet, my dough give chicks motive"
    Jaz-O (Jaz) f/ Dibiase, Jay-Z — Let's Go

Words that rhyme with motive

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Usage tips for "motive"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "motive" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for motive to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with motive ↔ Synonyms for motive 🔬 Words containing motive

Frequently asked questions

What does motive mean?
causing or able to cause motion; "a motive force"; "motive power"; "motor energy" impelling to action; "it may well be that ethical language has primarily a motivative function"- Arthur Pap; "motive pleas"; "motivating arguments" 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; "we did not understand his motivation
What part of speech is motive?
Motive is an adjective and a noun.
How many definitions does motive have?
Motive has 5 definitions across 2 parts of speech (adjective, noun).

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