Examples of motivate in a Sentence
No one knows what motivated him to act in such a violent way.
Recent Examples on the Web
The practice began in earnest with Anders Breivik, who in 2011, motivated by White supremacy, carried out a mass killing of over 70 people in Norway, Rutland said, adding Breivik inscribed slogans on his weapons and gave them names after Norse gods like Odin and Thor.
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Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Ask what motivates you to network in the first place.
—Sarah Maokosy, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Moreover, Markey would likely paint the primary challenge against him as motivated only by raw political ambition, not public policy and legislative acumen.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
There was widespread speculation that the shooter at the Covenant School, who had previously been a student there, was motivated by anti-religious resentment.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
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Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Ask what motivates you to network in the first place.
—Sarah Maokosy, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Moreover, Markey would likely paint the primary challenge against him as motivated only by raw political ambition, not public policy and legislative acumen.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
There was widespread speculation that the shooter at the Covenant School, who had previously been a student there, was motivated by anti-religious resentment.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Cite this Entry
“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivate. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motivate
verb
mo·ti·vate
ˈmōt-ə-ˌvāt 
motivated; motivating
: to provide with a reason for doing something : induce
Medical Definition
motivate
transitive verb
mo·ti·vate
ˈmōt-ə-ˌvāt
motivated; motivating
: to provide with a motive or serve as a motive for
motivate patients to change unhealthy lifestyles
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