motivate

verb

mo·​ti·​vate ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt 

motivated; motivating

transitive verb

1

: to give (someone) a reason for doing something

questions that excite and motivate youth

She was motivated by a desire to help children.

2

: to be a reason for something

said that money did not motivate their decision

motivative

ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-tiv 

adjective

Examples of motivate in a Sentence

No one knows what motivated him to act in such a violent way.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though aimed in part to protect the country’s reputation, the bans are also motivated by concerns that such footage could be exploited by the Iranian military, Seloom said. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

Rivera denies wrongdoing, says investigations were politically motivated Before being elected to Congress in 2010, Rivera was a high-ranking Florida legislator. —CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

How much has that experience motivated this year’s group early in the season? —Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026

Twin Rivers Unified School District teachers returned to their classrooms Monday, ending the union’s first-ever strike, a 12-day walkout motivated by what teachers described as untenable health care costs and unmanageable class sizes. —Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for motivate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids 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

motivative

-ˌvāt-iv 

adjective