motivate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: mo=ti=vate

CIDE DICTIONARY

motivate, v. t. [From Motive, n.].

 To provide with a motive; to move; impel; induce; incite.  William James.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

motivate, v.tr.
1 supply a motive to; be the motive of.
2 cause (a person) to act in a particular way.
3 stimulate the interest of (a person in an activity).

Derivative

motivation n. motivational adj. motivationally adv.

THESAURUS

motivate

activate, actuate, animate, arouse, bring, bring about, bring on, cajole, call forth, cause, coax, compel, contrive, draw down, draw on, drive, drive on, effect, egg on, elicit, encourage, energize, evoke, excite, force, forward, foster, galvanize, get, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, impel, incite, induce, influence, inspire, instigate, lead, mobilize, move, move to action, nudge, obtain, occasion, persuade, pique, power, procure, prod, promote, prompt, propel, provoke, push, put in motion, quicken, rouse, set agoing, set going, set in motion, shove, spark, spur, stimulate, stir up, superinduce, tempt, thrust, urge, wheedle, whip on