motivate
verb (used with object)
was motivating
-
past progressiveof motivate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
We don’t know what was motivating the solo juror who wanted to send Clancy to jail rather than to a psychiatric hospital.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
Buffett offered kind words about Walmart’s potential to succeed, but the snub was motivating for company executives at the time, the person said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
If you were on board with Musk's mission, that single-minded focus was motivating, he said, and helped fuel regular 13 plus-hour days on the job.
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2025
There was a lot of other stuff that public health experts did that really made people wonder what was motivating our advice and scientific judgment.
From Salon ● Nov. 23, 2024
The just realization had come to him during the preceding night that no ordinary desire for foreign travel was motivating my voyage.
From Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
