Motif example sentences

Related (12): theme, pattern, design, element, symbol, leitmotif, ornament, decoration, figure, image, recurring, distinctive

"Motif" Example Sentences

The rose motif appears throughout her entire collection of paintings.
He kept returning to the same motif in his novels — a character searching for home.
The architect incorporated a geometric motif into the building's facade.
That motif has been used in Islamic art for centuries.
She noticed the motif repeating in the wallpaper pattern.
The composer developed the opening motif into a full symphony.
Every dress in the collection featured the same floral motif.
The motif of betrayal runs through almost all of Shakespeare's tragedies.
I love how the designer used a bird motif as the central element.
That motif feels tired now — everyone's using it.
The motif kept showing up in his dreams, night after night.
She chose a Celtic motif for her tattoo design.
The motif was so recognizable that people spotted it immediately.
He borrowed the motif from traditional Japanese textiles.
The motif of loss connects all three stories in the book.
That motif has become iconic for the entire brand.
The artist repeated the motif obsessively across the canvas.
The motif appears in the opening scene and returns at the end.
She explained the motif to the class with real passion.
The motif felt fresh when they first introduced it.
He couldn't shake the motif from his head after hearing it once.
The motif of water appears in nearly every poem she's written.
That motif is too obvious — it's been done a thousand times.
The designer chose a minimalist motif for the new line.
The motif evolved slightly with each variation.
She recognized the motif immediately from her art history class.
The motif gave the whole piece a sense of unity.
He kept sketching the same motif over and over.
The motif felt both ancient and completely modern.
That motif is what makes the work instantly recognizable.

Common Phrases

recurring motif
central motif
design motif
floral motif
geometric motif
musical motif
thematic motif
motif of loss
motif appears
motif repeats
motif throughout
signature motif

Examples by Level

The motif on the dress is very pretty.
She likes the blue motif in the painting.

The artist used the same motif in all her paintings.
The motif of family appears in many of his stories.

Looking at the collection, you can see how the motif evolved over time.
The motif kept appearing in different forms throughout the exhibition.

The recurring motif of displacement gives the novel its emotional weight.
She'd been working with the same motif for years, but each piece felt completely different.

The motif functions less as decoration and more as a philosophical statement about impermanence.
What begins as a simple geometric motif gradually transforms into something far more complex and unsettling.

The artist's obsessive return to the same motif suggests not repetition but rather an endless interrogation of form itself.
Embedded within the motif is a kind of visual argument — one that refuses easy resolution or comfortable meaning.

Examples by Scenario

🏠 Everyday Life

My kid keeps drawing the same motif over and over — it's a little dragon thing.
The motif on the kitchen tiles reminds me of my grandmother's house.

💼 Workplace

The client wants us to use that motif from last year's campaign again.
We discussed whether the motif still works for the brand or if it feels dated.

📊 Business

The motif has become so associated with the company that changing it would be risky.
Our research shows the motif resonates strongly with the target demographic.

🛒 Buying / Shopping

I'm torn between the one with the floral motif and the geometric motif.
This rug has such a beautiful motif — but is it worth the price?

✈️ Travel

The motif carved into the temple walls was the same one we'd seen in three other cities.
Every building in the old town featured the same traditional motif.

📚 Education

The teacher explained how the motif connects to the historical period.
Students had to identify the motif and explain its significance in the text.

❤️ Relationships

He noticed the motif of avoidance in how she handled conflict.
The motif of unspoken resentment had been building between them for months.

📰 News / Politics

The motif of national pride dominated the political campaign.
Media outlets kept returning to the same motif in their coverage of the scandal.

💻 Technology

The app uses a simple geometric motif as its interface design.
The motif appears consistently across all the platform's screens.

📝 Formal Writing

The motif of surveillance recurs throughout the author's body of work.
Analysis of the motif reveals the text's underlying anxiety about control and observation.