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
Prediction With more firepower and the home crowd motivating TCU, the Horned Frogs start their four-game gauntlet with a 31-17 win over Iowa State, setting up a massive showdown next week at BYU.
—
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
This initial signal has reinforced his confidence in the framework and motivated him to share it more broadly as a potential resource for others exploring similar paths.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Today’s young people aren’t motivated by apocalyptic warnings, they’re energized by the expanding toolbox of climate solutions and the opportunity to play an active role in shaping a brighter future.
—Alexis Abramson, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Kraft’s brand-new flavor was motivated by merging the two popular Turkey Day dishes — macaroni and cheese and apple pie — and some families’ tradition of adding slices of cheese to their apple pie, according to a press release.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for motivate
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Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
This initial signal has reinforced his confidence in the framework and motivated him to share it more broadly as a potential resource for others exploring similar paths.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Today’s young people aren’t motivated by apocalyptic warnings, they’re energized by the expanding toolbox of climate solutions and the opportunity to play an active role in shaping a brighter future.
—Alexis Abramson, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Kraft’s brand-new flavor was motivated by merging the two popular Turkey Day dishes — macaroni and cheese and apple pie — and some families’ tradition of adding slices of cheese to their apple pie, according to a press release.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 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 15 Nov. 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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