motivated

adjective

mo·​ti·​vat·​ed ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-təd How to pronounce motivated (audio)
: provided with a motive : having an incentive or a strong desire to do well or succeed in some pursuit
a motivated employee
Courses are being offered on college campuses for those who are highly motivated but who without such help often drop out and are lost to society and themselves.Carol Kort
In a sporting context, for example, athletes who consistently seem to play hard and rarely concede defeat are often described as highly motivated or "competitive" by the media.Robert C. Eklund

Examples of motivated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To stay motivated, Singh recommended creating a stair-climbing challenge at work or downloading an app that tracks the number of steps or flights climbed. Brian Mastroianni, Health, 22 May 2024 Driving anxiety is another reason why young people are less motivated to get their license. Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 17 May 2024 But the judge overseeing the case last month rejected his claim that the prosecution is politically motivated along with other efforts to dismiss the case. TIME, 14 May 2024 In portraying the case against Trump as politically motivated, the Republicans are also laying the groundwork to dismiss its significance, should the jury convict, and for potential challenges to the fall election, a rematch with President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2024 Anna is an open-minded, motivated student who has consistently worked to make the most of her high school experience. Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, 13 May 2024 Two racially motivated killings in the ‘90s prompted the creation of a task force to celebrate diversity. Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024 Critics said the constant lawsuits were politically motivated and distracted from the attorney general’s other duties, including protecting consumers. Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024 Roof was sentenced to death for the racially motivated murders. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'motivated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivated was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near motivated

Cite this Entry

“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivated. Accessed 28 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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