Motivate Meaning
/ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
verbTo animate; to propel; to cause to take action.
Sentence Examples
The teachers are trying to motivate their students.
Try to motivate kids with verbal praise.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The coach's encouraging speech will ____ the team to practice harder for the championship game.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The coach gave a powerful speech before the game to help ____ the players and encourage them to play their very best.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁-der. Proto-Italic *moweō Late Latin moveō Late Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Late Latin -īvus Late Latin mōtīvumder. Middle English motif English motive Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English motivate From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Armor-piercing shells were heading up the shell hoists, but this procedure took a few minutes, allowing the battered American flagship to reply in kind, the gunners somewhat motivated to set new records for the rate of fire as the cruiser raked the larger ship from stem to stern in response."
— 2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 17:51 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The coach's encouraging speech will ____ the team to practice harder for the championship game.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The coach gave a powerful speech before the game to help ____ the players and encourage them to play their very best.