motivate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'motivate' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of inspiring someone to do something, typically through a combination of encouragement and positive reinforcement. Example sentence: We need to find ways to motivate our team to complete the project on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Related: Australia has forfeited world leadership on climate policy, says Kofi Annan panel "So I am on a mission, I'm on an environmental crusade to go and motivate everyone to go in that direction".

The Guardian - Film

Carver's critics claim he is failing to motivate his squad.

The Guardian - Sport

Using the hashtag #getagrip, it tweeted: "here to motivate, not commiserate".

The Guardian

Meanwhile Cameron and his media allies have made the "SNP veto" a major theme of their campaign to motivate disgruntled English voters.

The Guardian

With public bodies we find that, because they are accountable and already publish detailed audits each year, this is enough to motivate them.

The Guardian

McDonald (Jill, that is) added that the firm spends £30m a year to motivate its people and "offers real career development and progression, and the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications, from apprenticeships to foundation degrees".

The Guardian - Money

As Rentrak's UK boss Lucy Jones comments, 2014 lacked the major event movies that "motivate irregular cinema-goers to book that ticket", and it's true that the large section of the UK population that hardly ever goes to the cinema wasn't very motivated to do so in 2014.

The Guardian - Film

But it is unlikely to be sufficient to enagage or motivate staff to play their part in making the changes now needed to use constrained budgets as effectively as possible.

The Guardian

Supervision is the critical link to motivate and empower community health workers, and eventually strengthen programme quality.

The Guardian

Doesn't that motivate you to overcome your problems?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Voters in Scotland are also struggling to motivate themselves to the same levels of excitement as seen during the referendum campaign, though the polls suggest a dramatic surge in SNP seats and the near-wipe out of Labour north of the border.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "motivate", clearly define the desired outcome and tailor your approach to the specific individual or group you are trying to influence. Consider their values, goals, and potential barriers.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on external rewards (e.g., bonuses, promotions) to "motivate". Recognize and tap into intrinsic motivators like purpose, autonomy, and mastery to foster long-term engagement and commitment.

Linguistic Context

The verb "motivate" functions to describe the act of providing someone with a reason or incentive to do something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and commonly used. The function of the word is to influence someone's actions through encouragement and positive reinforcement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

33%

Lifestyle

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "motivate" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of providing someone with an incentive to take action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and appropriate for a wide range of contexts, from personal encouragement to large-scale strategic initiatives. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business settings, "motivate" carries a neutral tone and implies inspiring action or effort. When using "motivate", consider intrinsic motivators alongside external rewards for long-term success. Alternatives include "inspire", "encourage", and "incentivize", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inspire

Suggests a higher level of encouragement, often appealing to emotions or ideals.

encourage

Implies providing support and confidence to someone.

incentivize

Focuses on providing rewards or benefits as a reason to act.

stimulate

Indicates a more general arousal of interest or activity.

propel

Emphasizes the driving force behind someone's actions.

spur on

Suggests urging someone forward with encouragement.

drive

Implies a strong internal force or need.

push

Suggests applying pressure or force to initiate action.

galvanize

Means to shock or excite someone into taking action.

activate

Means to make something active or operative.

FAQs

How can I use "motivate" effectively in a sentence?

Use "motivate" to describe the act of providing someone with a reason or incentive to do something. For instance, "The coach's pep talk helped to "motivate" the team before the game".

What are some alternatives to "motivate" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "inspire", "encourage", or "incentivize". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is the correct usage, "motivate to do" or "motivate to doing"?

The correct usage is "motivate to do". For example, "I want to "motivate" him to study harder", not "motivate him to studying harder".

What's the difference between "motivate" and "manipulate"?

"Motivate" implies providing positive incentives and encouragement to help someone achieve their goals, while "manipulate" suggests using deceitful or underhanded tactics to control someone's actions for your own benefit.