motivation
Americannoun
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the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act in a certain way.
I don't understand what her motivation was for quitting her job.
- Synonyms:
- impetus, cause, inducement, inspiration, motive
-
the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something.
We know that these students have strong motivation to learn.
-
something that motivates; inducement; incentive.
Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.
noun
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the act or an instance of motivating
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desire to do; interest or drive
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incentive or inducement
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psychol the process that arouses, sustains and regulates human and animal behaviour
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of motivation
Explanation
People often need motivation to do tasks they'd prefer not to do. Do you work? Your motivation is your paycheck. Lost something? Finding it may provide motivation to tidy the house. At the root of the word motivation is the word motive, which is similarly defined as the reason for a particular action. Although the words are synonyms, when it comes to criminal behavior, people generally ask about the motives leading to the criminal acts, not the motivation behind them. Other synonyms for motivation include inspiration and enthusiasm, so people tend to associate motivation with positive acts.
Vocabulary lists containing motivation
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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.
Results suggest that this brain region plays a central role in generating the motivation to approach others and engage in social interactions.
From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026
The motivation for Serena Williams' return is not yet clear.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
“Mentally, it is harder. But seeing my sisters and where they are, it’s kind of a motivation for me,” said Zoe, who has already been called in three times by the U-14 national team.
From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026
There is a strong financial motivation for the hundreds of ships stuck in the Gulf to get out, according to Alessandro Gelli, a tanker ship broker at BRS Shipbrokers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026
Before Traynor began to waver, others had doubts about Dasch's motivation in coming forward to confess.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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.
