Definition: 1. A reason for doing something. 2. Causing or able to cause motion. 3. Impelling to action.
Use 'motive' in a sentence:
1. The doctor's motive was to bring an end to his patient's suffering.
2. Steam became the motive force of the Industrial Revolution as coal and iron ore were the raw materials.
3. I have an ulterior motive in offering to help you.
4. The Empress Dowager had the motive.
5. The financial markets are taking a jaundiced view of the Government's motives.
6. He had some motive in telling this fable.
7. She must have some ulterior motive for being nice to me—what does she really want?
8. Jealousy was assigned as a motive for the crime.
9. Sheila had an ulterior motive for trying to help Stan.
10. She distrusted his motives for wanting to see her again.
11. That's the wrong motive.
12. A motive is just a little cell, a germ, out of which the composer will build other musical material.
13. The motive is strategic.
14. The motive for confession is penitential or therapeutic—by speaking openly about personal guilt and suffering, the poet hopes to make them easier to bear.
15. What's your motive?
16. Her motives for helping are questionable.
17. These poets always approached their writing as artists, and their motive was aesthetic.
18. He had many motives for wanting to knock off Yvonne.
19. The research testified the influence of approach-avoidance motive conflict on serve performances.
20. He tried to get a fix on the young man's motives, but he just couldn't understand him.
21. The man privately admits that his motive is profits.
22. Besides, the 49-year-old British Army Captain had a more selfless motive for attempting the feat.
23. She has a natural ability to understand the motives of others.
24. People want to dissect his work and question his motives.
25. I put it to you that you are the only person who had a motive for the crime.
26. She must have some ulterior motive for being nice to me ─ what does she really want?
27. Their motive is money, and they will stop at nothing to get it.
28. His motives are unclear.
29. After all, even if profit is the motive, the net result is a reduction in the hotel's "carbon footprint".
30. I was suspicious of his motives.
31. I'm suspicious of his motives.
32. The motives that attract people to work within a social service are variable.
33. The profit motive is inherently at odds with principles of fairness and equity.
34. Was the profit motive your primary motivation for obtaining an education?
35. Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing.
36. The utility model relates to a motive vehicle bulb socket, comprising a bulb socket cylinder, a sliding plate and a spring.
37. I suspected her motives in offering to help.
38. The motive for the killing is unknown.
39. In this trial two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
40. One motive in imposing the new rule is to enhance bankers' sense of responsibility.
41. There seemed to be no motive for the murder.
42. The police have excluded theft as a motive for the murder.
43. Relatives ring up constantly, not always for the best motives, I might add.
44. I fully understand your motives.
45. He acted from base motives.
46. The motive of the executions would be to instil fear.
47. Their motives remain a mystery.
48. He is embarrassed about the motives behind his decision.
49. The incident cast doubt on her motives and reliability.
