motivation
noun
mo·ti·va·tion
ˌmō-tə-ˈvā-shən 
1
a
: the act or process of motivating
Some students need motivation to help them through school.
b
: the condition of being motivated
employees who lack motivation
motivationally
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of motivation in a Sentence
Some students need motivation to help them through school.
Many people have questioned her motivations in choosing to run for office at this time.
Recent Examples on the Web
The swingman’s stats have also faltered this past month, with his scoring and shooting attempts dropping drastically, which many have attributed to Butler’s uninspired play and seeming lack of motivation.
—
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Proving a fire was started by arson is easy and the motivation is often implicitly obvious, Nazzaro said.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
To that end, the recent three-point loss in Las Vegas should assist with motivation.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
Warner really was an underdog: he was cut by the Green Bay Packers, and then stocked shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery store, before taking a circuitous route back to the N.F.L. Warner pointed to the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for motivation 
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Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Proving a fire was started by arson is easy and the motivation is often implicitly obvious, Nazzaro said.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
To that end, the recent three-point loss in Las Vegas should assist with motivation.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
Warner really was an underdog: he was cut by the Green Bay Packers, and then stocked shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery store, before taking a circuitous route back to the N.F.L. Warner pointed to the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for motivation
Dictionary Entries Near motivation
Cite this Entry
“Motivation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivation. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motivation
noun
mo·ti·va·tion
ˌmōt-ə-ˈvā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of motivating
b
: the condition of being motivated
2
: a motivating force or influence : incentive
Medical Definition
motivation
noun
mo·ti·va·tion
ˌmōt-ə-ˈvā-shən
1
a
: the act or process of motivating
b
: the condition of being motivated
2
: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence (as a drive or incentive)
lacks the motivation to lose weight
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