Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Old French
Origin: motif, from motif 'moving'; MOTIVE2

motive

1 noun
     
mo‧tive1 [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 motives behind the decision remain obscure.
The violence was clearly prompted by political motives.
It's not the kind of thing he'd do unless he had an ulterior motive (=a reason he kept hidden).
2x-ref a motif
—motiveless adjective:
an apparently motiveless killing
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary