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.
Miami attorney Marcell Felipe, founder of Inspire America, a group that advocates for freedom for Cuba and the Americas, noted that Diaz-Balart motivated an entire generation to continue fighting for global freedom. Nora Gámez Torres and, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025 While Adrien Brody And Mikey Madison Take Home Top Acting Honors The Ramifications Of An Elevated Perception Of Counseling Directors Braun argued that understanding the role and value of a counseling center director should motivate schools to develop a strategic campus-wide mental health plan. Eric Wood, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 German prosecutors later said the suspect in the Munich incident, a 24-year-old Afghan, appeared to have been motivated by Islamic extremism. Greg Norman, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025 Williams is Black and Hensel is white, but no evidence has surfaced that the shooting was racially motivated, said Natalie Jackson, Crump’s co-director of litigation. Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 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 9 Mar. 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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