had been motivating

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of motivate.
  motivate

  verb (used with object)

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

Related Words

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