1
: one that imparts motion
specifically
: prime mover
2
: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: such as
a
: a small compact engine
b
: internal combustion engine
especially
: a gasoline engine
c
: a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
3
: motor vehicle
especially
: automobile
1
a
: causing or imparting motion
b
: of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons
motor fiber
c
: of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement
motor areas of the brain
2
a
: equipped with or driven by a motor
b
: of, relating to, or involving an automobile
c
: designed for motor vehicles or motorists
motored; motoring; motors
1
: to travel by automobile : drive
2
: to move or proceed at a vigorous steady pace
motored down the field for a touchdown
: to transport by automobile
Synonyms
Noun
Verb
- barrel
- belt
- blast
- blaze
- blow
- bolt
- bomb [slang]
- bowl
- breeze
- bundle
- bustle
- buzz
- cannonball
- careen
- career
- chase
- course
- crack (on)
- dash
- drive
- fly
- hare
- hasten
- hie
- highball
- hotfoot (it)
- hump
- hurl
- hurry
- hurtle
- hustle
- jet
- jump
- nip
- pelt
- race
- ram
- rip
- rocket
- run
- rush
- rustle
- scoot
- scurry
- scuttle
- shoot
- speed
- step
- tear
- travel
- trot
- whirl
- whisk
- zip
- zoom
Examples of motor in a Sentence
Noun
the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin
went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors
Adjective
motor areas of the brain
Verb
We spent the afternoon motoring through the countryside.
The car motored slowly up the hill.
Recent Examples on the Web
S. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
The handsome and menacing 2020 V60 wagon eschews pure combustion and melds in electric motors, batteries and EV technology to assist its stalwart twin-induction 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
As the rig passes near the school, either speed up your trolling motor to quicken the presentation, or kill it so the rig sinks.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
This innovative technology represents a significant leap forward in marine propulsion, combining advanced battery packs, inverters, and high-efficiency motors with proprietary software and assembly techniques.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
This midrange drone doesn't excel in any individual category but is a good all-rounder, with 30 minutes of battery life per battery charge, a flight range just under 4,000 feet and efficient brushless motors.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 1 Apr. 2024
One bug zapper had hundreds of reviews, but most were written about a capacitor motor fan; another bug zapper listing had reviews of pens and paper goods.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
The results suggested that syncing brain waves in the beta band, which is linked with motor functions, enhanced the ability of participants to synchronize their body movements — in this case, drumming a rhythm with their fingers.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
Kids may think that dollhouses are just fun toys to play with, but in reality, this classic toy can unlock a world of imaginative play, social-emotional learning, fine motor skill development, and endless memories.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024
Patti Greco, Health, 14 Apr. 2023
Under braking, the e-axle and rear e-motor contribute to the stopping process, allowing the friction brakes to recharge the battery more effectively.
—WIRED, 29 Mar. 2023
After all, each has a tri-motor powertrain that produces upward of 1000 horsepower.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 26 Mar. 2023
What are the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's?
—Patti Greco, Health.com, 14 Sep. 2021
The tri-motor powertrain has a launch-control mode that GMC calls Watts to Freedom or WTF, because, well, WTH.
—Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver, 23 Mar. 2023
Both the pre-motor filters and HEPA filters are washable and emptying and reattaching the dust cup is easy and breezy.
—Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 13 Oct. 2022
Parkinson’s is known to be the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, and is marked symptomatically by a progressive loss of motor- and non-motor control.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022
Motor symptoms can include jerking, muscle twitching, or lip-smacking; non-motor symptoms can include changes in sensation, emotions, or thinking.
—Patti Greco, Health.com, 9 Nov. 2021
Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 3 Jan. 2024
In the opposite scenario, when motoring gently through a busy town center or at parking-lot speeds, this torque-converter automatic exhibits none of the jerky hesitation that can occur with a dual-clutch gearbox.
—Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 4 July 2023
Yet in the United States, the economy motored ahead in last year’s fourth quarter for a sixth straight quarter of growth.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024
But that’s part of the point, to revert back to a previous age of motoring with a more engaging vehicle and fewer digital distractions.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024
Scoring on one of her signature moves, Murphy circled the MSU net with the puck, carried it back out to the blue line and motored down right wing before beating Mavericks goaltender Suzette Faucher with a wrist shot under the crossbar.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 26 Jan. 2024
Traffickers in Tunisia have been using small, rickety boats cobbled together from metal sheets to maximize the number of people motoring toward Italy — a perilous undertaking across the Mediterranean.
—Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Jack hasn’t motored or paddled through all of the basin, but he’s been on plenty of it in his 73 years.
—Robert N. Jenkins, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
For new walkers Nuby’s wooden baby walker is more than a device to help little ones motor around.
—Taryn Mohrman, wsj.com, 8 Dec. 2023
Noun
The people who would benefit most from BCI devices, people with major motor impairments like Arbaugh and Burkhart, would still depend on human labor for many things, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating.
—S. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024
The handsome and menacing 2020 V60 wagon eschews pure combustion and melds in electric motors, batteries and EV technology to assist its stalwart twin-induction 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
As the rig passes near the school, either speed up your trolling motor to quicken the presentation, or kill it so the rig sinks.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
This innovative technology represents a significant leap forward in marine propulsion, combining advanced battery packs, inverters, and high-efficiency motors with proprietary software and assembly techniques.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
This midrange drone doesn't excel in any individual category but is a good all-rounder, with 30 minutes of battery life per battery charge, a flight range just under 4,000 feet and efficient brushless motors.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 1 Apr. 2024
One bug zapper had hundreds of reviews, but most were written about a capacitor motor fan; another bug zapper listing had reviews of pens and paper goods.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024
The results suggested that syncing brain waves in the beta band, which is linked with motor functions, enhanced the ability of participants to synchronize their body movements — in this case, drumming a rhythm with their fingers.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024
Kids may think that dollhouses are just fun toys to play with, but in reality, this classic toy can unlock a world of imaginative play, social-emotional learning, fine motor skill development, and endless memories.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Pre-Motor Stage Parkinson's disease may begin decades before a person notices a single motor symptom.
—Patti Greco, Health, 14 Apr. 2023
Under braking, the e-axle and rear e-motor contribute to the stopping process, allowing the friction brakes to recharge the battery more effectively.
—WIRED, 29 Mar. 2023
After all, each has a tri-motor powertrain that produces upward of 1000 horsepower.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 26 Mar. 2023
What are the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's?
—Patti Greco, Health.com, 14 Sep. 2021
The tri-motor powertrain has a launch-control mode that GMC calls Watts to Freedom or WTF, because, well, WTH.
—Tony Quiroga, Car and Driver, 23 Mar. 2023
Both the pre-motor filters and HEPA filters are washable and emptying and reattaching the dust cup is easy and breezy.
—Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 13 Oct. 2022
Parkinson’s is known to be the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, and is marked symptomatically by a progressive loss of motor- and non-motor control.
—Steven Aquino, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022
Motor symptoms can include jerking, muscle twitching, or lip-smacking; non-motor symptoms can include changes in sensation, emotions, or thinking.
—Patti Greco, Health.com, 9 Nov. 2021
Verb
After motoring several miles off the coast of San Diego, Karafa used the deep-dropping setup to hook a swordfish that most people only dream about.
—Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 3 Jan. 2024
In the opposite scenario, when motoring gently through a busy town center or at parking-lot speeds, this torque-converter automatic exhibits none of the jerky hesitation that can occur with a dual-clutch gearbox.
—Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 4 July 2023
Yet in the United States, the economy motored ahead in last year’s fourth quarter for a sixth straight quarter of growth.
—Stan Choe, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024
But that’s part of the point, to revert back to a previous age of motoring with a more engaging vehicle and fewer digital distractions.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024
Scoring on one of her signature moves, Murphy circled the MSU net with the puck, carried it back out to the blue line and motored down right wing before beating Mavericks goaltender Suzette Faucher with a wrist shot under the crossbar.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 26 Jan. 2024
Traffickers in Tunisia have been using small, rickety boats cobbled together from metal sheets to maximize the number of people motoring toward Italy — a perilous undertaking across the Mediterranean.
—Gaia Pianigiani, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Jack hasn’t motored or paddled through all of the basin, but he’s been on plenty of it in his 73 years.
—Robert N. Jenkins, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
For new walkers Nuby’s wooden baby walker is more than a device to help little ones motor around.
—Taryn Mohrman, wsj.com, 8 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'motor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Latin, from movēre to move
First Known Use
Noun
1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1895, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing motor
Dictionary Entries Near motor
Cite this Entry
“Motor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motor. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
motor
1 of 3 noun
mo·tor
ˈmōt-ər 
1
: a machine that produces motion or power for doing work
a gasoline motor
electric motors
2
: motor vehicle
especially
: automobile entry 2
motor
2 of 3 adjective1
: causing or giving motion
motor power
2
a
: of, relating to, or being a nerve, neuron, or nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse to a muscle causing movement
motor nerves
b
: concerned with or involving muscular movement
motor areas of the brain
a motor reaction
3
a
: equipped with or driven by a motor
b
: of, relating to, or designed for use in an automobile
a motor accident
a motor mechanic
motor
3 of 3 verb
: to travel or transport by automobile : drive
Medical Definition
motor
adjective
mo·tor
ˈmōt-ər
1
: causing or imparting motion
2
: of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons
motor fibers
motor cells
3
: of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement
motor areas of the brain
More from Merriam-Webster on motor
Nglish: Translation of motor for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of motor for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motor
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