motivation
noun
mo·ti·va·tion
ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən 
1
a
: the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something : the act or process of motivating someone
Some students need motivation to help them through school.
… a loyal domestic audience, which gives publishers little motivation to innovate or change.—
The Economist
The Economist
b
: the condition of being eager to act or work : the condition of being motivated
had the motivation to succeed
employees who lack motivation
motivationally
adverb
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
Topics covered include motivation, concentration, confidence, resilience, visualization, breathwork and more.
—Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
That and their current place in the standings should be more than enough motivation for their front office to consider offloading long-term salary between now and the deadline.
—Danny Leroux, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
This is the motivation behind Helix 02, a unified whole-body loco-manipulation VLA system.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
The organization cited nuclear weapons, climate change and biological threats as the three biggest concerns to humanity and the motivation to move the clock closer to midnight.
—Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivation
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Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
That and their current place in the standings should be more than enough motivation for their front office to consider offloading long-term salary between now and the deadline.
—Danny Leroux, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
This is the motivation behind Helix 02, a unified whole-body loco-manipulation VLA system.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
The organization cited nuclear weapons, climate change and biological threats as the three biggest concerns to humanity and the motivation to move the clock closer to midnight.
—Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Cite this Entry
“Motivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivation. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motivation
noun
mo·ti·va·tion
ˌmōt-ə-ˈvā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of motivating
b
: the condition of being motivated
2
: a motivating force or influence : incentive
Medical Definition
motivation
noun
mo·ti·va·tion
ˌmōt-ə-ˈvā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of motivating
b
: the condition of being motivated
2
: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence (as a drive or incentive)
lacks the motivation to lose weight
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