motivate

[moh-tuh-veyt]

See more synonyms for motivate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), mo·ti·vat·ed, mo·ti·vat·ing.

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

Origin of motivate

First recorded in 1860–65; motive + -ate¹

Related formsmo·ti·va·tor, nounde·mo·ti·vate, verb (used with object), de·mo·ti·vat·ed, de·mo·ti·vat·ing.de·mo·ti·va·tor, nounnon·mo·ti·vat·ed, adjectivere·mo·ti·vate, verb (used with object), re·mo·ti·vat·ed, re·mo·ti·vat·ing.un·mo·ti·vat·ed, adjectiveun·mo·ti·vat·ing, adjectivewell-mo·ti·vat·ed, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for motivate on Thesaurus.com

induce, move, provoke, prompt, cause.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for motivate

Contemporary Examples

Instructional materials and approaches that motivate, stimulate, and engage students.
What It Takes to Fix American Education
Jonah Edelman
November 23, 2014
The Democrats lost it, by being afraid to have a strong message and motivate their voters.
How the Lame Democrats Blew It
Goldie Taylor
November 5, 2014
But he argued that the issue does motivate otherwise unlikely voters and could be a deciding factor in a close race.
Ganja Vs. Geezers in the Sunshine State
Ben Jacobs
November 3, 2014
Trying to motivate the Allies, he offered his assistance and cooperation to the profession as a whole, pro bono.
My Grandfather's War: Recovering the Art the Nazis Stole
Anne Sinclair
October 5, 2014
Needless to say, Democrats are hoping to use the issue to motivate their base.
Groundhog Day With Minimum Wage On Capitol Hill
Ben Jacobs
April 30, 2014

Historical Examples

These problems may then motivate you to enter individual therapy.
When You Don't Know Where to Turn
Steven J. Bartlett
He had felt it before, but the feeling was strong enough now to motivate action.
Earthsmith
Milton Lesser
Any sort of desire or need, left unsatisfied in the day, may motivate a dream.
Psychology
Robert S. Woodworth
The essential thing about value is that it motivate our conduct.
Social Value
B. M. Anderson
Again, the competitive impulse can often be used to motivate drill.
How to Teach Religion
George Herbert Betts

British Dictionary definitions for motivate

motivate

verb

(tr) to give incentive to

Derived Formsmotivator, noun

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

Word Origin and History for motivate

v.

1863, "to stimulate toward action," from motive + -ate (2); perhaps modeled on French motiver or German motivieren. Related: Motivated; motivating.

motivate

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}motivate

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for motivate

Contemporary Examples

Instructional materials and approaches that motivate, stimulate, and engage students.

The Democrats lost it, by being afraid to have a strong message and motivate their voters.

But he argued that the issue does motivate otherwise unlikely voters and could be a deciding factor in a close race.

Trying to motivate the Allies, he offered his assistance and cooperation to the profession as a whole, pro bono.

Needless to say, Democrats are hoping to use the issue to motivate their base.

Historical Examples

These problems may then motivate you to enter individual therapy.

He had felt it before, but the feeling was strong enough now to motivate action.

Any sort of desire or need, left unsatisfied in the day, may motivate a dream.

The essential thing about value is that it motivate our conduct.

Again, the competitive impulse can often be used to motivate drill.

motivate

Word Origin and History for motivate

v.

Origin of motivate