motivate

Verb

Verb Forms: motivated, motivating, motivates

• To provide a reason or incentive for action.
• give an incentive for action
• To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
• To animate; to propel; to cause to take action.

Examples

• A big bonus play can MOTIVATE a player to push for a comeback.
• He was motivated purely by self-interest.
• Steam-motivated pumps are used in manufacturing.
• The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees.

Synonyms

actuate, incite, move, prompt, propel, abet, bring about, cheer, drive, egg on, encourage, engender, evoke, excite, foment, goad, grill, ignite, impel, induce, inflame, instigate, invoke, lash, motivate, motive, obligate, oblige, promote, provoke, push, rouse, send, set off, spark off, spur, spur on, stimulate, sting, stir, stir up, stoke, tempt, urge, whet, whip up

Antonyms

demotivate, discourage, dissuade, halt, stop

Related Words

mismotivate, motivated, motivator, motive