motivate

present singular third person motivates · participle present motivating · participle past motivated · past motivated

1. transitiveTo provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.

   The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees.

   1 more example

   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

   Synonyms: drive, spur, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send · Antonyms: demotivate, discourage, dissuade

2. transitiveTo animate; to propel; to cause to take action.

   He was motivated purely by self-interest.

   1 more example

   Steam-motivated pumps are used in manufacturing.

   Synonyms: drive, move, push · Antonyms: demotivate, halt, stop