How do you use the word "motive" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "motive" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "motive": You may rest assured; I have no ulterior motive in making this donation. Your motive was admirable, but your action was not.

Motive Meaning

/ˈməʊtɪv/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounAn idea or communication that makes one want to act, especially from spiritual sources; a divine prompting.

nounAn 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.

Sentence Examples

You may rest assured; I have no ulterior motive in making this donation.

Your motive was admirable, but your action was not.

There seemed to be no motive for the murder.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

need motor motivation

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The lawyer argued that there was no criminal ____, only a tragic accident.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The police are still trying to determine the ____ for the crime, as there seems to be no obvious reason for the theft.

Word Origin & History

Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-der. Proto-Italic *moweō Late Latin moveō Late Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Late Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive From Middle English motif, from Anglo-Norman motif, Middle French motif, and their source, Late Latin motivum (“motive, moving cause”), neuter of motivus.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"there's something in a woman beyond all human delight; a magnetic virtue, a charming quality, an occult and powerful motive." — 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 2, member 1, subsection ii:

"Many of them at first seemed kind to him, but it turned out their motives were not entirely altruistic." — 1947, Malcolm Lowry, Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock:

"“Your job here is to find the good things in your colleagues—the things their state saw—and not focus on the bad.” I said I understand. “And, Joe, never attack another man’s motive, because you don’t know his motive.”" — 2007, Joe Biden, Promises to Keep, New York: Random House, published 2008, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 110:

"every joint and motive of her body" — c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:

"“Why should Eldridge commit murder?[…]There was only one possible motive—namely, he wished to avoid detection as James Selby of Anaconda Ltd. […]”" — 1931, Francis Beeding, “10/6”, in Death Walks in Eastrepps:

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