Motivate Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms motivate American [moh-tuh-veyt] / ˈmoʊ təˌveɪt /

verb (used with object)

motivated, motivating

1. to provide with a motive, or a cause or reason to act; incite; impel.

   Synonyms: cause, prompt, provoke, move, induce

motivate British / ˈməʊtɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to give incentive to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• demotivate verb (used with object)
• motivator noun
• nonmotivated adjective
• remotivate verb (used with object)
• unmotivated adjective
• unmotivating adjective
• well-motivated adjective

Etymology

Origin of motivate

First recorded in 1860–65; motive + -ate 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dorsey has maintained that the latest cuts weren’t primarily motivated by cost savings.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Texas and Georgia, in particular, will signal whether new Democrats -- particularly women -- have been motivated to show up both on the ballot and at the ballot box," she said.

From Barron's

Sane says the date was helpful for him, too, because it motivated him to consolidate all of their account information into a living document that can be updated as needed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Vernice has her sights set on college, marriage and children; Annie is mainly motivated by her obsession with finding her mother.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lord Mandelson has not commented publicly on the allegations, but it is understood his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.

From BBC

Related Words

• drive
• excite
• galvanize
• incline
• inspire
• persuade
• prompt
• propel
• provoke
• spark
• spur
• sway
• trigger

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.