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motivate

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈmoʊtɪveɪt/ · UK /ˈməʊtɪveɪt/

Forms: motivates, motivating

motivate means: To make someone want to do something or try harder.

verb

ENCOURAGE ACTIONB1

To make someone want to do something or try harder.

  • Music motivates me to exercise.
  • Her teacher motivated her to keep studying.
  • What motivates your team to do their best?

How to use it: motivate someone to do something (The coach motivated us to train harder.)

Similar words: encourage, inspire, spur

Opposites: discourage, demotivate

Common phrases: motivate someone, motivate a team, motivate yourself, motivate staff

DRIVE ACTIONB2

To be the reason that makes someone act in a particular way.

  • Fear motivated his silence.
  • They were motivated by a desire to help.
  • What motivated her decision to leave?

How to use it: be motivated by something (Her decision was motivated by concern for her children.)

Similar words: drive, prompt, impel

Common phrases: motivate a decision, motivate someone's actions

Questions about motivate

What does motivate mean?

To make someone want to do something or try harder.

What is motivate in other languages?

Türkçe: motive etmek · Español: motivar · Français: motiver · Deutsch: motivieren · Italiano: motivare · 日本語: やる気にさせる

How do you pronounce motivate?

In American English /ˈmoʊtɪveɪt/; in British English /ˈməʊtɪveɪt/.

How do you use motivate in a sentence?

Music motivates me to exercise. Her teacher motivated her to keep studying.

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motivate in other languages

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