motivate B1 Topic:Actions & Processes US /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ UK /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ See IPA manual Freq #19217 Meanings 1 verb To give someone a reason or the enthusiasm to do something. The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees. 2 verb To be the reason behind someone's actions or behaviour. He was motivated purely by self-interest. Verb forms Verb forms are not available for this word yet. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to give someone a reason or... encouragedriveinspire 2 verb · to be the reason behind... drive Word family Forms motivatesmotivating Derived forms mismotivatemotivatablemotivatedmotivativemotivatorremotivateunmotivate Related forms motivationmotive Etymology AI details From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver. Topics Actions & Processes External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # motivate **Type:** Word **Level:** B1 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ **Frequency rank:** 19217 ## Meanings 1. To give someone a reason or the enthusiasm to do something. 2. To be the reason behind someone's actions or behaviour. ## Examples - The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees. - He was motivated purely by self-interest. ## Derived Forms - mismotivate - motivatable - motivated - motivative - motivator - remotivate - unmotivate ## Related Forms - motivation - motive ## Etymology From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver. ## AI Etymology Motivate comes from motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver. In present-day English its meanings include to give someone a reason or the enthusiasm to do something and to be the reason behind someone's actions or behaviour. Related and derived forms include motivation, motive, mismotivate, and motivatable. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown