What does motivate mean?
To motivate is to give someone a reason to act, think, or develop in a particular way. A person may be motivated by encouragement, a meaningful goal, personal values, or tangible rewards, while a project or event may be motivated by a wider social or economic force. The word is especially common in education, work, sport, politics, and public policy, where it describes the efforts used to inspire effort or bring about action. “Motivated” often describes someone who is energetic and determined, as in “a highly motivated learner,” whereas “motivating” more often describes the encouragement itself. The term comes from a Latin word associated with movement, reflecting the idea that a motivating force moves people toward an action. Although motivation and motivating are sometimes confused, they have different grammatical roles and slightly different focuses.
verbTo give someone a reason or incentive to act in a particular way. It can also mean to cause a person or thing to behave in a specified way, especially through encouragement or personal example.
- To give someone a reason or incentive to act.
- To cause a person or group to act in a particular way, especially through encouragement, enthusiasm, or example.
- To make something happen or develop by providing a driving force or impetus.
"Her determination motivated the rest of the team to keep trying."
"The coach motivated the players to remain focused during the second half."
"Rising costs motivated the company to reconsider its production plan."
The word “motivate” comes from a Latin root meaning “move”: what motivates us moves us toward action.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does motivate come from?
The word entered English in the early 16th century from Medieval Latin, where the related verb meant “to move” or “to cause to move.” Its ultimate root is the Latin movere, meaning “to move,” which also underlies English words such as “mover” and “emotion.” The modern sense of encouraging or providing an incentive developed from the idea of moving someone toward action.
Related word forms
How motivate is actually used
The word is widely used in formal and informal contexts. It often appears with an infinitive introduced by “to,” as in “motivate someone to try,” and can carry a positive connotation when it refers to encouragement, though it can also describe pressure or the use of incentives.
Easily confused with motivate
A motivation is the reason or incentive that encourages action, whereas to motivate is the act of providing that encouragement.