motivate

[ moh-tuh-veyt ]

/ ˈmoʊ təˌveɪt /

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.

Nearby words

motion picture, motion sickness, motion study, motion work, motionless, motivate, motivation, motivation research, motivational research, motive, motive power

Origin of motivate

First recorded in 1860–65; motive + -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR motivate

induce, move, provoke, prompt, cause.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR motivate ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mo·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, adjective

re·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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for motivate

Instructional materials and approaches that motivate, stimulate, and engage students.
What It Takes to Fix American Education|Jonah Edelman|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Again, the competitive impulse can often be used to motivate drill.
How to Teach Religion|George Herbert Betts
This is needed to motivate effort and insure right impressions.
How to Teach Religion|George Herbert Betts
He had felt it before, but the feeling was strong enough now to motivate action.
Earthsmith|Milton Lesser
The essential thing about value is that it motivate our conduct.
Social Value|B. M. Anderson
They are used by the government as one of the economic levers intended to motivate enterprises toward greater efficiency.
Area Handbook for Romania|Eugene K. Keefe, Donald W. Bernier, Lyle E. Brenneman, William Giloane, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole

British Dictionary definitions for motivate

motivate

/ (ˈməʊtɪˌveɪt) /

verb

(tr) to give incentive to

Derived Forms

motivator, 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