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| mo·tive [ mṓtiv ] |
noun (plural mo·tives) |
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1. reason: the reason for doing something or behaving in a specific way
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2. arts
Same as motif (sense 1) (sense 3)
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adjective |
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1. causing motion: capable of causing or producing motion
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2. causing somebody to do something: tending to make somebody want or be willing to do something
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transitive verb (past and past participle mo·tived, present participle mo·tiv·ing, 3rd person present singular mo·tives) |
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motivate somebody: to make somebody want or be willing to do something
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| [14th century. Via Old French motif< late Latin motivus< past participle of Latin movere "to move"] |
| Word Key: Synonyms |
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motive, incentive, inducement, spur, stimulus, impetus
CORE MEANING: something that prompts action
motive the reason for doing something or behaving in a specific way;
 a crime that appears to have no motive
He stressed the need to maintain the highest standards in this new probe, fearing there were ulterior political motives for the investigation.
incentive something that encourages or motivates somebody to do something;
The economic insecurity experienced by single mothers is another incentive for women to stay in the work force and increase their skills.
financial incentives to reduce pollution
inducement something that persuades somebody to do something or attracts somebody to a course of action, especially something that is offered as a reward;
Debt relief was promised as an inducement to the country to make peace with its neighbor.
The committee expressed the hope that "every inducement, direct or indirect, will be given to keep mothers at home."
spur something that encourages a person or organization to take action or to make a greater effort, for example, the hope of a reward or the fear of punishment;
Trade traditionally acts as a spur to economic expansion.
Storekeepers saw the outsides of their properties improved, and that provided a spur for them to improve the insides.
stimulus something that encourages an activity or process to begin, increase, or develop;
The possibility of lowering interest rates acted as a stimulus to the economy.
Although the army knew that they were defending legality, they did not have the morale stimulus of winning battles which the rebels had.
impetus the energy or a driving force that prompts somebody to accomplish or undertake something;
In the early nineteenth century almost all the impetus for setting up schools came from the churches.
concerns that give fresh impetus to a growing environmentalist movement |
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