motivation

noun

mo·ti·va·tion | \ ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən

Definition of motivation

1a : the act or process of motivating Some students need motivation to help them through school.

b : the condition of being motivated employees who lack motivation

2 : a motivating force, stimulus, or influence : incentive, drive the Old Testament heroes added religious motivation to the waging of war— Richard Humble The fear of failure was the motivation for his achievements.

Other Words from motivation Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about motivation

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Examples of motivation in a Sentence

Some students need motivation to help them through school. Many people have questioned her motivations in choosing to run for office at this time.

Recent Examples on the Web

But recently, a number of authors have begun imagining fantasy with new perspectives, where their character’s motivations and story are rooted in more modern concerns. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "Foundryside is a cyberpunk adventure wrapped in an epic fantasy novel," 23 Dec. 2018 The quest for this kind of elegance is the motivation of my creative process. — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, "This New Evening Wear Collection is Made for Meghan Markle, And You," 6 Aug. 2018 This typing of hunters betrays the fact that the motivation of individual hunters can be the same or different despite the type. — Author: Christine Cunningham, Anchorage Daily News, "What is a sport hunter? Words don’t always fit a person’s motivation," 26 Apr. 2018 The only question left is this: What’s the motivation here? — Dave Hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde: LeBron's decision changes L.A., East ... and Heat hopes," 2 July 2018 While great workout gear might not be a cure-all to get you into the gym, a good pair of workout leggings can bump your motivation. — Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, "These $11 Leggings Have More Than 7,000 5-Star Reviews on Amazon," 11 Mar. 2019 Many would ask Jeff Shi what his motivation was for buying a football team in middle England. — SI.com, "How Jeff Shi and Fosun International Transformed Wolverhampton Wanderers Into a Premier League Side," 12 July 2018 But prosecutors say his motivation was financial, according to NJ.com. — Crystal Hill, miamiherald, "A police officer was making drug arrests — and making money, New Jersey authorities say," 3 July 2018 Their motivation is down, their physical fitness is down, and — wait, why is this stranger playing Junkchain? — Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: Glow Season 2, Episodes 1-10," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'motivation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.