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Motivate - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

To motivate means to inspire or encourage someone to take action, work harder, or pursue a goal. It involves providing reasons or enthusiasm to achieve something.

motivate

/ˈmoʊtəveɪt/ /ˈməʊtɪveɪt/

Definition:

To provide someone with a reason or incentive to act in a certain way.

Synonyms:

inspire, encourage, stimulate, spur

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

discourage, demotivate

Common Collocations:

motivate employees, motivate students, motivate action, motivate change

Derivatives:

motivation, motivational, motivator

Usage Tips:

Use "motivate" to describe giving someone a reason to act or feel enthusiastic about a task.

Common Phrases:

motivate someone to do something, self-motivate, highly motivated

Etymology:

Derived from Latin "motivus," meaning "moving," and later French "motiver," meaning "to set in motion."

Examples:

  • 1. She tries to motivate her team with positive feedback.
  • 2. The teacher’s praise will motivate the students to work harder.
  • 3. A good leader knows how to motivate others effectively.
  • 4. Watching success stories can motivate people to pursue their dreams.

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