motivated

adjective

mo·​ti·​vat·​ed ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-təd 

: provided with a motive : having an incentive or a strong desire to do well or succeed in some pursuit

a motivated employee

Courses are being offered on college campuses for those who are highly motivated but who without such help often drop out and are lost to society and themselves.

—Carol Kort

In a sporting context, for example, athletes who consistently seem to play hard and rarely concede defeat are often described as highly motivated or "competitive" by the media.

—Robert C. Eklund

Examples of motivated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump has – without evidence – said the cases against him are politically motivated. —Npr Washington Desk, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024

Over the last five years, Sanderson has opened for bigger artists like Finneas and Chase Atlantic on their respective solo tours, helped write songs for alt-R&B star Joji’s chart-topping album Smithereens, and cultivated a motivated, ever-growing audience of fans. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2024

The former president has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty, alleging the prosecution is part of a politically motivated effort to prevent him from winning the presidency in November. —Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024

And there is the broader body of polling in this cycle that suggests Democratic voters are more motivated by their opposition to Trump than their support for Biden, which could help explain a partisan gap in enthusiasm. —Craig Gilbert, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024

The former president has blasted the district attorney's investigation as being politically motivated. —Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2024

Critics argue that these bills are politically motivated and undermine free speech protections rather than protect them. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024

Dozens of protesters died during violence that followed trials against Sonko, which his supporters said were politically motivated. —Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024

County officials have also painted a lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican running for election this year, as politically motivated. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing motivated

• self-motivated