motivate

verb

mo·​ti·​vate ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce motivate (audio)
motivated; motivating

transitive verb

: to provide with a motive : impel
questions that excite and motivate youth
She was motivated by a desire to help children.
motivative adjective

Examples of motivate in a Sentence

No one knows what motivated him to act in such a violent way.
Recent Examples on the Web Other sections need to better enforce their rules with school visits instead of taking the word of schools that are motivated to have championship teams, especially when transfers across the state will come close to 17,000 for the 2023-24 school year. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Still, Benedict and his former co-workers are motivated to keep pushing. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 The evidence shows the defendant’s actions were motivated by hate, and he will be held accountable. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Indeed, National Review is a rare creature in our media landscape, an independent-minded voice of ordered liberty that isn’t motivated by clicks or ratings. Rich Lowry, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 When Is Social Facilitation Effective? More than a century of research has taught scientists that social facilitation doesn’t apply in every scenario, and what motivates one person might not work for another. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 Some are motivated by Senegal's political turmoil — authorities delayed February’s presidential elections by 10 months — but the sudden draw seemed to hinge largely on social media posts and the spread of the route there. Baba Ahmed, Quartz, 2 Mar. 2024 Passions are the factors that motivate people both at work and at home. Laurel Donnellan, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Share [Findings] Psychopaths recommend harsher punishments for homicides, whether accidental or motivated by profit, but exhibit relatively low concern about killing in general. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'motivate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivate was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near motivate

Cite this Entry

“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

motivate

verb
mo·​ti·​vate ˈmōt-ə-ˌvāt How to pronounce motivate (audio)
motivated; motivating
: to provide with a reason for doing something : induce

Medical Definition

motivate

transitive verb
mo·​ti·​vate ˈmōt-ə-ˌvāt How to pronounce motivate (audio)
motivated; motivating
: to provide with a motive or serve as a motive for
motivate patients to change unhealthy lifestyles
motivative adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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