motivate

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ UK /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ See IPA manual

verb 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.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to give someone a reason or... encourage drive inspire

2 verb · to be the reason behind... drive

Word family

Forms motivatesmotivating

Derived forms mismotivatemotivatablemotivatedmotivativemotivatorremotivateunmotivate

Related forms motivation motive

Etymology

From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver.

Topics

Actions & Processes

# 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

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motivate

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