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
As Manoukian describes it, JPM’s estimation is that a deal will be reached with Iran in two to three weeks, motivated in part by the fact that the president won’t want to see oil prices rising much higher in a midterm election year.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
In reaching their stunning verdicts, jurors who heard chilling rape and abuse allegations involving at least 11 women over the more than monthlong trial rejected the defense’s positions that the victims were lying and motivated by money, heartbreak, or jealousy.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
In addition to listing tasks and meetings, add goals to a daily schedule, which can keep remote workers motivated to continue working during lulls in the workday.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
They were invested, and negative comments from the judges only motivated them more.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivate
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Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
In reaching their stunning verdicts, jurors who heard chilling rape and abuse allegations involving at least 11 women over the more than monthlong trial rejected the defense’s positions that the victims were lying and motivated by money, heartbreak, or jealousy.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026
In addition to listing tasks and meetings, add goals to a daily schedule, which can keep remote workers motivated to continue working during lulls in the workday.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
They were invested, and negative comments from the judges only motivated them more.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 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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