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motivated
/ˈmoʊtɪveɪtɪd/
having a strong reason to act
She felt motivated to study harder after seeing her exam results.
She had a strong reason to study more intensely because of her exam performance.
general
Eager to work or act due to a driving force or purpose.
The employees were motivated by the promise of bonuses.
The employees worked hard because they were promised rewards.
He wasn't motivated to finish the project on time.
He lacked the drive to complete the project by the deadline.
Often used to describe someone's internal drive or external incentives.
Collocations
highly motivatedvery eager and enthusiasticself-motivatedable to motivate oneself without external pressuremotivated bydriven by a specific reason or factor
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid using 'motivated' to describe objects or abstract concepts (e.g., 'The plan was motivated' is incorrect). Reserve it for people or their actions.
Gold Rule
Subject-Verb Agreement
Use 'motivated' as an adjective to describe a person's state, not as a verb. Correct: 'She is motivated.' Incorrect: 'She motivated.'
Word Origin
From Latin *motivus* (moving), derived from *movere* (to move). First used in English in the 15th century with the sense 'causing motion.' The psychological sense of 'providing incentive' emerged in the late 19th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in educational, workplace, and personal development contexts. Often paired with prepositions like 'by' (motivated by success) or 'to' (motivated to achieve).
Word Breakdown
motive
a reason for action
root-ated
having the quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary