Motivate

Quick meaning: Motivate is a verb meaning (transitive) To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.

Meaning

(transitive) To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To animate; to propel; to cause to take action.

Example Sentences

He was motivated purely by self-interest.

Steam-motivated pumps are used in manufacturing.

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.

Word Forms

• motivates
• motivating
• motivated

Synonyms for motivate

Depending on context, synonyms include drive, spur, abet, actuate, goose, send.

Antonyms for motivate

Common opposites include demotivate, discourage, dissuade, halt, stop.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include incite, propel, prompt, move, encourage, drive.

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