Dictionary

motivate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈmoʊ.ɾəˌveɪt] (US)
• /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmoʊ.təˌveɪt/ (US)
• [ˈmoʊ.ɾɪ.veɪt] (US, uncommon)
• /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English motivate From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
   • The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees.
   • Armor-piercing shells were heading up the shell hoists, but this procedure took a few minutes, allowing the battered American flagship to reply in kind, the gunners somewhat motivated to set new records for the rate of fire as the cruiser raked the larger ship from stem to stern in response. 2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 17:51 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022:
2. (transitive) To animate; to propel; to cause to take action.
   • He was motivated purely by self-interest.
   • Steam-motivated pumps are used in manufacturing.

Forms

Antonyms

dissuade · stop · discourage · demotivate · halt · demotivate

Deriveds

mismotivate · motivated · unmotivate · remotivate · motivator · motivatable · motivative

Relateds

motivation · motive

Synonyms

inflame · fuel · rouse · stir · stoke · lash · stimulate · incite · set off · actuate · egg on · move · urge · impel · obligate · bring about · encourage · stir up · drive · cheer · motivate · push · ignite · promote · sting · oblige · send · grill · drive · move · evoke · motive · prompt · whip up · provoke · invoke · foment · instigate · goose · tempt · whet · goad · spur · motive · excite · push · drive · induce · engender · light a fire under · spur · spark off · spur on · draw · abet

Translations (43)

ca motivar (to encourage) · fi motivoida (to encourage) · pl motywować (to encourage) · km លើកទឹកចិត្ត (to encourage) · he דרבן (to encourage) · sh motivírati (to encourage) · de motivieren (to encourage) · nrf motiver (to encourage) · ko ...에 동기를 주다 (to encourage) · ru мотиви́ровать (to encourage) · fa برانگیختن (to encourage) · uk мотивува́ти (to encourage) · bg подбуждам (to encourage) · mi whakahihiko (to encourage) · pt motivar (to encourage) · ga spreag (to encourage) · mi whakaohooho (to encourage) · is mótivera (to encourage) · pl zmotywować (to encourage) · it motivare (to encourage) · bg мотиви́рам (to encourage) · ka შეგულიანება (to encourage) · es motivar (to encourage) · hu motivál (to encourage) · sv motivera (to encourage) · la corrōborō (to encourage) · vi động viên (to encourage) · zh 激发 (to encourage) · cs motivovat (to encourage) · ar حَثَّ (to encourage) · kk ынталандыру (to encourage) · nl motiveren (to encourage) · nb motivere (to encourage) · is hvetja (to encourage) · eo motivi (to encourage) · ro motiva (to encourage) · hi प्रेरित करना (to encourage) · vi khích lệ (to encourage) · el παρακινώ (to encourage) · fr motiver (to encourage) · ja 動機を与える (to encourage) · vi khuyến khích (to encourage) · te ప్రేరేపించు (to encourage)