motivate

[ moh-tuh-veyt ]

/ ˈmoʊ təˌveɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: motivate / motivated / motivating / motivator 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR motivate

induce, move, provoke, prompt, cause.

See synonyms for motivate on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of motivate

First recorded in 1860–65; motive + -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM motivate

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

Words nearby motivate

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

How to use motivate in a sentence

We now need to ensure that all market players are motivated to make hyperefficient building insulation their standard operating procedure.
Use today’s tech solutions to meet the climate crisis and do it profitably|Walter Thompson|February 12, 2021|TechCrunch
So when Kamaru became a world champion, that motivated me a lot.
As Kamaru Usman edges toward UFC greatness, his former teammate wants to stop him|Glynn A. Hill|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
This is the idea motivating the recent paper by Christos Makridis of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cary Wu of York University in Toronto.
Researchers identify social factors inoculating some communities against coronavirus|Christopher Ingraham|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
For Adams, he hopes his trash pickups motivate others to litter less and pick up more.
The ‘garbage guy’ walks 12 miles a day around D.C. picking up trash: ‘I’ll pick up pretty much anything.’|Sydney Page|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

I’m looking for someone who challenges me and motivates me to try new things.
Meet D.C.’s Most Eligible LGBTQ Singles|Staff reports|February 11, 2021|Washington Blade
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
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
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
If He is in us, why does He not manifest to us continually, why does His power not always motivate our actions?
An Interpretation of Friends Worship|N. Jean Toomer
These principles motivate our actions within the United Nations.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various

British Dictionary definitions for motivate

motivate

/ (ˈməʊtɪˌveɪt) /

verb

(tr) to give incentive to

Derived forms of motivate

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

motivate

OTHER WORDS FOR motivate

Origin of motivate

OTHER WORDS FROM motivate

Words nearby motivate

Words related to motivate

How to use motivate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for motivate

Derived forms of motivate