motivate
UK: ˈməʊtɪveɪt | US: ˈmoʊtɪveɪt
vt. to provide someone with a reason or incentive to do something
vt. to stimulate interest or enthusiasm in an activity or goal
motivate = mot<move> + iv<adjective suffix> + ate<verb suffix>
- mot (from Latin motus, meaning "move" or "motion")
- iv (a suffix forming adjectives, often indicating relation or tendency)
- ate (a verb-forming suffix indicating action or process)
Etymology Origin:
The word "motivate" traces back to the Latin motivus, meaning "pertaining to movement." The root mot reflects the idea of motion or drive, while the suffixes -ive and -ate transform it into a verb meaning "to cause movement" in a figurative sense—i.e., to spur someone into action. Over time, it evolved in English to specifically denote inspiring or encouraging behavior.
A good leader knows how to motivate their team.
The teacher used games to motivate the students to learn.
Financial rewards can motivate employees to work harder.
His speech motivated the crowd to take action.
She was motivated by her desire to succeed.