motivation

motivation — noun

1. the inner drive that makes you want to put energy into a task, even when that ta

1.nounB1
Definition

the inner drive that makes you want to put energy into a task, even when that task is tiring or demanding

Example

After the encouraging speech, the team felt renewed motivation to reach their sales goals.

collocation: renewed motivation / feel motivation

Aylin has been writing her novel with great motivation since joining the local writing club.

Common collocations
  • renewed motivation
  • lack of motivation
  • feel motivation
  • lose motivation
  • source of motivation
  • strong motivation
  • great motivation
Synonyms
  • drive

    stronger, more internal push; suggests relentless effort rather than general willingness

  • enthusiasm

    lighter, focused on enjoyment and positive energy rather than goal-directed effort

  • determination

    emphasises firmness of purpose and not giving up, especially in difficult tasks

Antonyms
  • apathy

    complete lack of interest or desire to act

  • demotivation

    the loss of motivation, often caused by discouragement

Grammar Patterns

motivation + to-infinitive

motivation + for + noun / gerund

Usage Note

Uncountable in most contexts. Frequently takes 'to-infinitive' to state the goal ('motivation to succeed') or 'for + gerund' to state the activity ('motivation for studying'). Distinguish from sense 2, which points to a specific reason rather than the general feeling of wanting to act.

Common Mistakes

I need motivation for study English.
I need motivation for studying English.
After 'for', use the gerund (-ing form), not the base verb.
She has a strong motivation to win.
She has strong motivation to win.
In this sense, 'motivation' is uncountable; do not use 'a'.

2. a specific factor — such as a need, wish, or external reward — that causes someo

2.nounB2
Definition

a specific factor — such as a need, wish, or external reward — that causes someone to act in a certain manner or to aim for a particular result

Example

The police are still trying to determine the motivation behind the robbery.

motivation behind + [event]

Hassan's main motivation for the night shift was the higher pay and extra time off.

Common collocations
  • motivation for
  • motivation behind
  • main motivation
  • primary motivation
  • underlying motivation
  • motivations of
Synonyms
  • motive

    almost interchangeable, but 'motive' is more common in legal or criminal contexts

  • reason

    broader and more neutral; does not carry the goal-directed force of 'motivation'

  • incentive

    focuses on an external reward or benefit that encourages action, rather than an internal reason

Grammar Patterns

motivation for + noun / gerund

motivation behind + noun

Usage Note

Countable in this sense — it takes plural 'motivations' when referring to multiple reasons or factors. Typically followed by 'for' (stating the action) or 'behind' (stating the event or behaviour). Unlike sense 1, this sense answers the question 'why?'. Frequently used in psychology and behavioural analysis contexts.

Common Mistakes

What was his motivation to commit the crime?
What was his motivation for committing the crime?
Use 'for + gerund', not 'to-infinitive', when stating the specific action.
The motivation of his actions is unclear.
The motivation behind his actions is unclear.
Use 'behind' not 'of' to link to an action or event.

3. the process of encouraging someone to take action or work toward a goal by offer

3.nounC1
Definition

the process of encouraging someone to take action or work toward a goal by offering reasons, creating favourable conditions, or appealing to their personal interests

Example

Coach Jabari's steady motivation helped the junior swim team cut their race times by nearly ten percent.

collocation: motivation from + [role]

The company invested heavily in employee motivation programmes to reduce staff turnover.

collocation: employee motivation programmes

Common collocations
  • employee motivation
  • student motivation
  • staff motivation
  • team motivation
  • motivation programmes
Synonyms
  • encouragement

    softer and more interpersonal; focuses on verbal support rather than structured processes

  • incentivisation

    more formal and business-oriented; emphasises rewards and measurable outcomes

  • inspiration

    suggests a creative or emotional spark rather than a systematic process

Usage Note

Uncountable, used formally in management, education, and coaching contexts. Frequently appears as a compound noun ('employee motivation', 'student motivation', 'team motivation') where it functions as an attributive noun modifying the outcome group. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense describes an intentional action performed by one person on another, not a personal feeling or reason.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Motivation, enthusiasm, drive, and inspiration all describe a positive force that moves someone to act, but they differ in source and intensity. Motivation is the broadest term: it combines a personal desire with a goal-directed push — you can lack motivation even if you feel enthusiastic about an idea. Enthusiasm is lighter and more emotional, suggesting lively interest and enjoyment rather than sustained effort toward a difficult goal. Drive is more intense and self-generated, implying an unstoppable inner force that keeps a person working despite obstacles, often without needing external reasons. Inspiration typically arrives from an outside source — a person, a story, or a sudden insight — and sparks a burst of creative energy. For example, a young athlete may feel great enthusiasm after watching the Olympics but lack the daily motivation to train at dawn; a seasoned runner, however, relies on personal drive to keep going long after the initial inspiration fades. In everyday use, motivation is the most practical and goal-oriented of the four.

motivation ↗enthusiasm ↗drive ↗inspiration ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • level of motivation
  • source of motivation
  • lack of motivation
  • sense of motivation
  • boost in motivation
  • loss of motivation

Adverbs

  • highly motivated
  • strongly motivated
  • intrinsically motivated
  • deeply motivated

Phrases

  • lose motivation
  • find motivation
  • provide motivation
  • maintain motivation
  • regain motivation
  • keep up one's motivation

Prepositions

  • motivation for
  • motivation behind
  • motivation from

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Motivation was formed in the late 1800s by combining motive (from Latin motivus, meaning 'causing to move') with the suffix -ation, which turns a verb-like idea into a noun. At its root is the Latin verb movere, meaning 'to move' — so motivation is literally the quality or action that gets things moving. The word first appeared in English in the context of psychology and later spread into everyday use, education, and business.