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.
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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
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.
"It's been a big motivation to think about this energy system in the context of how we can reduce the costs of critical infrastructure and provide critical amenities for community members," says Gould.
From Science Daily • May 6, 2026
But there are undeniably warring interests that complicate the publication’s motivation.
From Slate • May 5, 2026
The driver, a 33-year-old German man, was arrested at the scene and officials said his motivation was unclear.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
But that motivation is intended to be forgotten—it’s not politics but corruption that shares center stage with the series’ revenge elements, gunfights and atmospheric treatment of the city.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
It's not hard to follow the Gamemakers' motivation.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
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.
