ulterior

CEFRC1

/ʌlˈtɪə.ɹɪə/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Kept hidden and different from the stated reason.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Being intentionally concealed so as to deceive.

Examples

  • I don't think Tom has any ulterior motives.

  • I think Tom has no ulterior motives.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Also pronounced

  • /ʌlˈtɪɚ.i.ɚ/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Beyond what is obvious or evident.

  2. Situated beyond, or on the farther side.

  3. Happening later; subsequent.

More examples

In context

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

  • It [Spain] was divided by the Romans into two provinces, Citeriour and Ulteriour, nearer and farther, that is, from Rome.

  • Other aestheticians have said that aesthetic contemplation is nothing more than sustained, concentrated attention to an object in which there is no ulterior purpose and the attention is an end in itself.

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

She had an blank motive for helping him, which was to get his money.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Latin ulterior (“further, more distant”), from ulter (“that is beyond”) + -ior (“more”).