Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

motivate

/ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.60 in modern English

Syllables: mo-ti-vate
IPA: /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

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

Transitive verb

verb

To animate; to propel; to cause to take action.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"The weekly staff meeting was meant to motivate employees."
"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."
"He was motivated purely by self-interest."
"Steam-motivated pumps are used in manufacturing."

Etymology

Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. 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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/
British English: /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪt/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

motivates (present, singular) motivating (participle, present) motivated (participle, past) motivated (past)

Derived Forms

mismotivate motivatable motivated motivative motivator remotivate unmotivate

Frequently Paired Words

motivation motive

Synonyms

drive spur abet actuate goose fuel light a fire under send sting bring about cheer draw

Antonyms

demotivate discourage dissuade halt stop

Questions

How do you pronounce motivate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/.
What does motivate mean?: To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
Where does motivate come from?: Etymology tree Anglo-Norman motifder. Middle French motifder. Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Latin mōtus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. 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.

How to pronounce motivate

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