motivate

/ˈməʊtɪveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈməʊtɪveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt/ (ame, mw)

motivate — verb

  • motivatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • motivateshe / she / it
  • motivatedpast simple
  • motivating-ing form

1. to be the hidden force that drives a person's actions or decisions

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to be the hidden force that drives a person's actions or decisions

例句

Sora's desire to help elderly neighbours motivated her to start a weekly shopping service.

passive: be motivated by [desire/need/fear]

What motivates the Watanabe family to rise before dawn is their dream of owning a bakery.

同義詞
  • drive

    stronger, often implies a forceful internal push rather than a reasoned choice

  • prompt

    suggests a specific, immediate trigger rather than an ongoing reason

  • spur

    suggests sudden or urgent motivation, often in response to a challenge

反義詞
  • deter

    to make someone decide not to do something through fear or doubt

  • discourage

    to reduce someone's confidence or willingness to act

文法句型

motivate + noun/pronoun + to-infinitive

be motivated by + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive ('be motivated by') when the reason is stated. The subject of the active form is typically an abstract noun (desire, fear, greed, ambition) or a situation/event. Object must be a person or group of people.

常見錯誤

❌His fear motivated him forward.
✅His fear motivated him to run faster.
💡'motivate' requires a to-infinitive clause, not a directional adverb.
❌The reward motivated to work harder.
✅The reward motivated the team to work harder.
💡'motivate' is transitive and cannot be used without an object.

2. to make someone feel enthusiastic and willing to put effort into doing their wor

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to make someone feel enthusiastic and willing to put effort into doing their work or achieving a goal

例句

A good coach knows how to motivate players to give their best effort during a match.

pattern: motivate + sb + to-infinitive

Stephanie felt that the small bonus did little to motivate the tired sales team.

同義詞
  • encourage

    softer, more about giving confidence and emotional support; less focused on achieving a specific goal

  • inspire

    suggests sparking creativity, admiration, or a vision; stronger emotional effect

  • spur

    suggests urgent pushing forward, often in reaction to competition or a deadline

反義詞
  • demotivate

    the direct opposite; to make someone lose enthusiasm or the will to try

  • discourage

    to make someone lose confidence or hope, often through criticism or setbacks

文法句型

motivate + noun/pronoun + to-infinitive

motivate + yourself/himself/themselves

用法筆記

Common in workplace, sports, and educational contexts. Unlike sense 1 (DRIVE BEHAVIOUR), this sense does not normally take an abstract reason as subject—the motivator is typically a person, a reward system, or an inspiring example. The reflexive form (motivate yourself) is natural and frequent.

常見錯誤

❌The bonus motivated me.' (vague — unclear what the motivation was for)
✅The bonus motivated me to reach my sales targets.
💡'motivate' works best when the goal or action is specified.
❌The teacher motivated that the students should study harder.
✅The teacher motivated the students to study harder.
💡'motivate' takes a person as object + to-infinitive, not a that-clause.