A motor drive method is a method of driving a motor by a motor drive apparatus. The motor drive apparatus includes an inverter that regulates supplied power to the motor that is a position sensorless synchronous machine, and includes a controller that outputs a control signal to control the inverter. The method includes reducing output torque of the motor to be less than maximum output torque, in a speed range that is lower than a first speed at which the motor rotates. The maximum torque that is output from the motor is the maximum output torque in a case the motor drive apparatus drives the motor.