Motive

/ˈməʊtɪv/

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.
  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.

    "No-one could understand why she had hidden the shovel; her motives were obscure at best."

  5. A motif.

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:

Synonyms & Antonyms

SYNONYMS

motifmotivationmotivatemotionalmoving