- motive (for something) a reason for doing something
- There seemed to be no motive for the murder.
- I'm suspicious of his motives.
- the profit motive (= the desire to make a profit)
- I have an ulterior motive in offering to help you.
Synonyms reasonreasonexplanation ▪ grounds ▪ basis ▪ excuse ▪ motive ▪ justification ▪ pretextThese are all words for a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done.reason a cause or an explanation for something that has happened or that somebody has done; a fact that makes it right or fair to do something:- He said no but he didn’t give a reason.
- The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed.
- She left the room abruptly without explanation.
- You have no grounds for complaint.
- On what basis will this decision be made?
- Late again! What’s your excuse this time?
- It gave me an excuse to take the car.
- There seemed to be no motive for the murder.
- I can see no possible justification for any further tax increases.
- He left the party early on the pretext of having to work.
- (a/an) reason/explanation/grounds/basis/excuse/motive/justification/pretext for something
- the reason/motive behind something
- on the grounds/basis/pretext of/that…
- (a) good/valid reason/explanation/grounds/excuse/motive/justification
Extra Examples- He was acting from the highest motives when he offered her money.
- He was suspicious of her motives in inviting him into the house.
- However you explain the motives behind his actions, he was still wrong.
- I did it for a variety of motives.
- I'd say he had a very strong motive for wanting her dead.
- It it is clear that they were acting from motives of revenge.
- She knew that he was inspired by base motives.
- She should examine her motives for marrying him.
- She was not sure what his underlying motives were.
- The police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.
- There is no doubt about the motive behind it all.
- There may be a hidden motive for his departure.
- There must be something which provided a motive for these killings.
- There seemed to be no clear motive for the attack.
- We give aid to other countries with mixed motives.
- We've become adept at hiding our true motives.
- What was their motive in setting fire to the building?
- speculation that less noble motives were driving the country's foreign policy
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- hidden
- ulterior
- good
- …
- be inspired by
- have
- establish
- …
- drive somebody/something
- motive in
- motive behind
- motive for
- …
- a variety of motives
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French motif (adjective used as a noun), from late Latin motivus, from movere ‘to move’.
Check pronunciation:
motive