Motive

Last Updated: January 2, 2026 at 12:30 PM

Scrabble:11 ptsWWF:13 pts6 letters

Definition of Motive

Noun

  1. An idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
  2. 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.
  3. A limb or other bodily organ that can move.
  4. Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.

    "What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?"

  5. Alternative form of motif.

    "If you listen carefully, you can hear the flutes mimicking the cello motive."

Verb

  1. To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.

Adjective

  1. Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move

    "a motive argument"

  2. Relating to motion and/or to its cause

Anagrams of Motive

Words You Can Make

21 words can be made from the letters in "motive":

+1 Letter Anagrams

Words formed by adding one letter to "motive" and rearranging: