motivated

adjective

mo·​ti·​vat·​ed ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-təd How to pronounce motivated (audio)
Synonyms of motivatednext
: 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
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Healthy protective lies are typically temporary and emotionally motivated rather than self-serving. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 Alba has long been open about her love of high-intensity workouts and switching up her fitness routines to stay motivated. Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026 China labeled the move politically motivated. Emily Feng, NPR, 17 May 2026 The debt snowball method, meanwhile, may help some people stay motivated by creating quicker psychological wins. Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for motivated

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motivated was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivated. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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