motivate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He told me before playing Pokémon Go it was "nearly impossible" to motivate himself to do anything, as he was feeling very anxious and depressed about life.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
In a nation that doesn't care much for soccer, vast crowds sang the cheesy, sunny song "Country Roads" to motivate their heroes.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
To increase supply meaningfully, Washington should focus on tax-policy changes and private-market solutions that motivate high-equity homeowners and mom-and-pop landlords to sell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Small, intermittent rewards can motivate you to keep going.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
Occasionally find things that excite and motivate them and will take risks when others in power support them.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
A happy homeowner, Umansky holds, is the ultimate goal in his line of work, and the satisfaction that comes from helping clients is what motivates him to remain active as a real estate agent.
From MarketWatch ● May 22, 2026
When I got an education, I thought, “Oh, OK, what motivates me? Is it writing? Theater?”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
The idea that you can elect the candidates of your choice is what motivates most people to go to the polls.
From Slate ● May 7, 2026
He’s partly right about what motivates such leaders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Yegey in the Hall of the Thirty-Three today: “I unalterably oppose this blockade of grain-exports to Karhide, and the spirit of competition that motivates it.”
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
But she said she believes Collins “has blinders on to what meets her needs,” a factor she argued motivated Platner’s campaign.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
The stock rally during the pandemic kept him motivated as his investments grew.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Crabb: I didn’t feel motivated by playing in all the international events, but now, I think, sitting out kind of lit the fire under me, and I’m really motivated now.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
This is what motivated the central bank to step in after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026
Perhaps she’d honestly wanted to help, perhaps she’d been motivated by kindness.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Their wide-eyed optimism and curiosity is endearing and even motivating.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
That’s motivating people to move to more affordable areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
His team made its interest in trafficking plain to the local ATF division, motivating agents to build cases.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
“They were kind of at the same place I am. And it’s just very motivating to see them where they are. That’s just kind of where I want to be.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2026
Barack and I belonged to the same gym, run by a jovial and motivating athletic trainer named Cornell McClellan.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Vocabulary lists containing motivate
List 5
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