motivate

verb

mo·​ti·​vate ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce motivate (audio)
motivated; motivating

transitive verb

: to provide with a motive : impel
questions that excite and motivate youth
She was motivated by a desire to help children.
motivative adjective

Examples of motivate in a Sentence

No one knows what motivated him to act in such a violent way.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This will motivate the team to learn fast and launch with confidence. Ashay Satav, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025 The decision to pay €10million so the English right-back could play the Club World Cup also fit the hierarchy’s idea of using that tournament to move on from last season (Alonso’s appointment ahead of that competition was also similarly motivated). Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025 And, in part motivated by Trump's claims of fraud, at least 19 states have passed new mail voting restrictions in place to make the practice more difficult since 2020, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Aug. 2025 At least one lawmaker is ready to join critics who question if Trump's trade war is truly motivated by national security concerns. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for motivate

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivate was in 1836

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

motivate

verb
mo·​ti·​vate ˈmōt-ə-ˌvāt How to pronounce motivate (audio)
motivated; motivating
: to provide with a reason for doing something : induce

Medical Definition

motivate

transitive verb
mo·​ti·​vate ˈmōt-ə-ˌvāt How to pronounce motivate (audio)
motivated; motivating
: to provide with a motive or serve as a motive for
motivate patients to change unhealthy lifestyles
motivative adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on motivate

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