motivation
Americannoun
-
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.
-
something that motivates; inducement; incentive.
Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.
Other Word Forms
- demotivation noun
- motivational adjective
- motivative adjective
- nonmotivation noun
- remotivation noun
Etymology
Origin of motivation
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.
One factor reinforcing Block’s motivation for shorting credit is his opinion that there is too much passive investing in the market that automatically exaggerates moves when they come.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
In a handwritten note that they saw, Finn said his motivation for donating sperm was to "bring life and happiness to others".
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
However, the researchers note that the findings show a correlation, not cause and effect, and that factors like motivation or self-discipline may also influence outcomes.
From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026
It’s a simple but primal character motivation that Beetz sells with a wild-eyed ferocity.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
“Where is our motivation? Credit us with a minimum of sense.”
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
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.
