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

Audiences are very motivated to support independent filmmakers, and that’s a good thing for all of us. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 28 June 2026

Ensure adequate intake and stay motivated with the Ombre Water Bottle. — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 27 June 2026

With Cassidy off the ballot, some Louisianans may have been less motivated to vote in the runoff, according to Lionel Rainey III, a Republican strategist. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 27 June 2026

But the dog days of summer stand no chance against Brandon Dorlus — as energized, motivated and driven as ever after a breakthrough second season. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing motivated

• self-motivated

Rhymes for motivated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated