motivate
v.v. to give someone a reason to do something or to make them want to work harder. You can also use it to describe what makes you act in a certain way.
v. to provide a reason or incentive for an action; to stimulate interest or enthusiasm in a person to achieve a goal.
The teacher knows how to motivate her students to read more.
The manager introduced a new bonus scheme to motivate the sales team during the slow winter months.
Psychologists often distinguish between internal desires and external rewards when studying the factors that truly motivate people to pursue long-term career changes.
From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French motiver.
The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object, often followed by an infinitive phrase ('motivate someone to do something').
He motivates for study hardHe motivates me to study hardMotivate requires a direct object (the person being encouraged) followed by a 'to' infinitive.