English edit

Etymology edit

motive +‎ -ate

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/
  • (file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/, /ˈmoʊ.ɾəˌveɪt/

Verb edit

motivate (third-person singular simple present motivates, present participle motivating, simple past and past participle motivated)

  1. (transitive) To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage.
    The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees.
    • 2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 17:51 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN)[1], archived from the original on 17 October 2022:
      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.
  2. (transitive) To animate; to propel; to cause to take action
    He was motivated purely by self-interest.
    Steam-motivated pumps are used in manufacturing.

Antonyms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

Italian edit

Etymology 1 edit

Adjective edit

motivate f pl

  1. feminine plural of motivato

Participle edit

motivate f pl

  1. feminine plural of motivato

Etymology 2 edit

Verb edit

motivate

  1. inflection of motivare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Anagrams edit

Spanish edit

Verb edit

motivate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of motivar combined with te