motive

noun/ˈmoʊtɪv/

Frequency rank: #4,557 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)

Meaning

A reason for doing something.

Illustration for the English word “motive”

Example sentence

Her sudden change in behavior suggested a hidden motive behind her actions.

Synonyms & related words

More words in ranks 4,501–4,600