motivation

American  

[moh-tuh-vey-shuhn] / ˌmoʊ təˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

• motivations
  plural

1. 

   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

2. 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.

3. something that motivates; inducement; incentive.

   Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.

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motivation British  

/ ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of motivating

2. desire to do; interest or drive

3. incentive or inducement

4. psychol the process that arouses, sustains and regulates human and animal behaviour

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• demotivation
  noun
• nonmotivation
  noun
• remotivation
  noun
• motivational
  adjective
• motivative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• motivations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of motivation

First recorded in 1870–75; motive + -ation

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

motivation motivations

His scenes with Moore are a master class in how to find a character’s motivation — and a scream.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Let your motivation level determine the size and scope of the project.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

"I think the great significance of these findings, and the tantalizing picture that it promotes, is a great motivation and reason to further examine solid-state nitrogen physics at very low temperatures," Umurhan said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

She was struck by Gilt employees’ motivation and dedication.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

“It comes down to motivation, doesn’t it? Since we’re being candid, we might as well acknowledge that we saw one another on the train bound for London. We both have missions and we’re motivated.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

You may or may not buy the mutual attraction the series insists upon, or for that matter, trust the lovers’ motivations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026

One of the purported motivations for “Juiced” was getting Simpson to confess to the murders on camera, though the proviso going in was that no one could bring them up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

However, he also defended the proposal, saying, "we stand behind the motivations of FFE", and that its intention "was to direct more capital and equity equally" among Fifa's 211 member associations.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

In a sane world he would provide answers that could facilitate greater understanding of his actions and motivations, and how he believes those actions will benefit the American people.

From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026

But his father never did anything without a reason—and from the few words he’d exchanged with Nehemia, he couldn’t help but wonder if she had her own motivations in coming here, too.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Related Words

• catalyst
• desire
• encouragement
• impetus
• impulse
• incentive
• inclination
• interest
• motive
• reason
• wish