Motivates — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt/ mo·ti·vate

Meaning & Definition of Motivates

Motivates (verb)

  1. to give (someone) a reason for doing something
  2. to be a reason for something

Motivates (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to rouse to action or activity

    "The presence of treats motivated the dogs to obey their owner's commands."

    "They drove a campaign to motivate voters to show up to the polls."

    similar: arouses, encourages, excites, fires (up), impassions, incites, instigates, moves, piques, provokes, revs (up), sparks, spurs, stimulates, stirs, activates, animates, drives, energizes, galvanizes, induces, inspires, keys (up), motives, propels, pumps up, quickens, sets off, vitalizes, forces, impels, allures, baits, beguiles, bribes, entices, leads on, lures, seduces, tempts, goads, persuades, fans, ignites, inflames, kindles, triggers, abets, ferments, foments, raises, whips (up), aggravates, annoys, bothers, exasperates, galls, gets, irritates, vexes, angers, enrages, maddens, upsets
    opposite: calms, soothes, subdues, tranquilizes, appeases, mollifies, pacifies, placates

Related Entry: Motivate (verb)

Motivate is a different word from Motivates. The synonyms below are for motivate, not for motivates.

  1. to rouse to action or activity

    "The presence of treats motivated the dogs to obey their owner's commands."

    "They drove a campaign to motivate voters to show up to the polls."

    similar: arouse, encourage, excite, fire (up), impassion, incite, instigate, move, pique, provoke, rev (up), spark, spur, stimulate, stir, activate, animate, drive, energize, galvanize, induce, inspire, key (up), motive, propel, pump up, quicken, set off, vitalize, impel, force, allure, bait, beguile, bribe, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, tempt, goad, persuade, fan, ignite, inflame, kindle, trigger, abet, ferment, foment, raise, whip (up), aggravate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get, irritate, vex, anger, enrage, madden, upset
    opposite: calm, soothe, subdue, tranquilize, appease, mollify, pacify, placate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Motivates

The most common words with a similar meaning to Motivates:

arouses, encourages, excites, fires (up), impassions, incites, instigates, moves, piques, provokes, revs (up), sparks, spurs, stimulates, stirs, activates, animates, drives, energizes, galvanizes, induces, inspires, keys (up), motives, propels, pumps up, quickens, sets off, vitalizes, forces, impels, allures, baits, beguiles, bribes, entices, leads on, lures, seduces, tempts

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Motivates

Words with the opposite meaning of Motivates:

calms, soothes, subdues, tranquilizes, appeases, mollifies, pacifies, placates

Word Forms of Motivates

Inflections: motivated, motivating

Derived words: motivative (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Motivates

First known use: 1794

Frequently Asked Questions about Motivates

What does "Motivates" mean?

"Motivates" means to give (someone) a reason for doing something. As a verb, it is defined as: to give (someone) a reason for doing something.

What is another word for "Motivates"?

Other words for "Motivates" include arouses, encourages, excites, fires (up), impassions, incites, instigates and moves. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Motivates" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Motivates"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Motivates". Common alternatives include arouses, encourages, excites, fires (up), impassions, incites, instigates, moves, piques and provokes.

What is the opposite of "Motivates"?

Antonyms of "Motivates" include calms, soothes, subdues, tranquilizes, appeases, mollifies, pacifies and placates.

How do you use "Motivates" in a sentence?

Examples of "Motivates" in a sentence: "The presence of treats motivated the dogs to obey their owner's commands."; "They drove a campaign to motivate voters to show up to the polls.".

Is "Motivates" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Motivates" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Motivates"?

"Motivates" is pronounced /ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt/ and divided into syllables as mo·ti·vate.

What is the origin of the word "Motivates"?

First known use: 1794.