# motive

/ˈmoʊtɪv/ (US) · /mˈəʊtɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/motive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. reason for action

noun · CEFR B2

the reason why you do something, especially a reason that other people might not know.

For teachers: the psychological or situational incentive that prompts a specific choice or action.

- The police are still trying to find a motive for the robbery.
- The investigator questioned whether the CEO had a financial motive for leaking the confidential merger details to the press.

### 2. criminal reason

noun · CEFR B2

the specific reason why someone would want to commit a crime.

For teachers: the specific cause or drive behind criminal behaviour, often used in legal contexts to establish intent.

- The lawyer argued that his client had no motive to hurt the victim.
- In a criminal trial, establishing a clear motive can be as crucial as providing physical evidence to convince a jury of the defendant's guilt.

### 3. a social plan

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

a plan to go out or a social event like a party.

For teachers: a planned social gathering or an intention to meet friends for an event.

- Are you coming to the motive at Sarah's house tonight?
- They were looking for a motive after the concert, but most of the local clubs had already reached capacity.

### 4. causing motion

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing something that provides the power to move.

For teachers: relating to motion or providing the force that produces movement.

- Steam provided the motive power for the first trains.
- The engineer explained that the motive force behind the turbine was high-pressure gas rather than liquid fuel.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 5. to incite

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to give someone a reason to act or to encourage them to do something.

For teachers: to prompt or incite an individual to action by providing a motive.

- The desire for fame can motive people to work very hard.
- The promise of a significant bonus was intended to motive the sales team toward exceeding their quarterly targets.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The police are still looking for a motive.
- The detective struggled to find a clear motive for the theft since the suspect was already wealthy.
- While the defendant admitted to the physical act, the prosecution failed to establish a convincing motive, leading the jury to consider the possibility of an accident.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.