Words / B1

MOHT-iv-ayt/ˈməʊtɪveɪt/

To motivate is to make someone want to act: motivate staff; motivated by money; a motivating speech. Motivation is already in the dictionary. Encourage is softer; force is stronger and against someone’s will. Demotivate is the opposite. Do not use motivate for making a machine start — that is start / power. Motivated is a common CV adjective — use it with evidence.

Meaning

To make someone want to do something, especially something difficult.

Examples

• “The bonus motivated the team to finish before the deadline.”
• “The deadline motivated the team more than the pep talk.”
• “She is motivated by interesting work, not only by overtime pay.”

Good to know

motivate someone to + verb; motivated by. Noun: motivation. Softer: encourage. Opposite: demotivate. Not starting a machine.

Near in meaning

encourage

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