motivate
verb
mo·ti·vate
ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt 
motivated; motivating
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
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 hope of one day inheriting Cal’s construction empire was part of what motivated Nate to act so … violently in high school, but without the context of how that takeover happened, his success strains credulity.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
But those tireless days lent him the discipline required to pursue a career in tech, and motivated him to improve the agricultural business.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Hearing from constituents about this crisis and the way they have been directly impacted by extreme weather events motivated us to introduce Senate Bill 982, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act.
—Scott Wiener, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
Colorado’s quest for another Stanley Cup has led the Avs to trade away many prospects and draft picks, which both motivates the Avs to be aggressive in the UDFA market and makes the franchise an attractive landing spot, as evidenced by the success of some of their signings.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
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Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026
But those tireless days lent him the discipline required to pursue a career in tech, and motivated him to improve the agricultural business.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Hearing from constituents about this crisis and the way they have been directly impacted by extreme weather events motivated us to introduce Senate Bill 982, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act.
—Scott Wiener, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
Colorado’s quest for another Stanley Cup has led the Avs to trade away many prospects and draft picks, which both motivates the Avs to be aggressive in the UDFA market and makes the franchise an attractive landing spot, as evidenced by the success of some of their signings.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
Cite this Entry
“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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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