motivate
/ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: motivates · motivating
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
Verb
Examples
The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To animate; to propel; to cause to take action.
Verb
Examples
He was motivated purely by self-interest.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “motivate” mean?
To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
Is “motivate” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.