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
Dehydration also interferes with how your brain uses dopamine and serotonin—the chemical messengers that help regulate mood, focus, and motivation.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026
Nearly six years after Iger’s seismic move – which stunned the media and business worlds and came just prior to the devastation of Covid and when the exec was well shy of his 70th birthday – his motivations to leave remain largely a mystery.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Nearly every younger sibling who found success was put into an environment that featured all four, offering motivation, situated learning and a sense of becoming and belonging.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Tax benefits are limited Because the lifetime gift/estate tax exclusion amount is currently so high, avoiding estate tax shouldn’t be a major motivation for most people to gift assets to individuals during their lifetimes—at least for now.
—Christine Benz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motivation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026
Nearly six years after Iger’s seismic move – which stunned the media and business worlds and came just prior to the devastation of Covid and when the exec was well shy of his 70th birthday – his motivations to leave remain largely a mystery.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Nearly every younger sibling who found success was put into an environment that featured all four, offering motivation, situated learning and a sense of becoming and belonging.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Tax benefits are limited Because the lifetime gift/estate tax exclusion amount is currently so high, avoiding estate tax shouldn’t be a major motivation for most people to gift assets to individuals during their lifetimes—at least for now.
—Christine Benz, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 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 5 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
