# motivating

/ˈmoʊtəˌveɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /mˈəʊtɪvˌeɪtɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/motivating
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

giving you a reason to want to do something or work harder. You use this to describe things that make you feel excited and ready to start a task.

For teachers: providing a reason or incentive to act; causing someone to feel enthusiastic about a goal. Often used to describe a person's leadership style or the effect of a speech.

## Examples

- The coach gave a very motivating speech before the game.
- Finding a motivating teacher can change the way a student feels about a difficult subject like mathematics.
- The CEO's vision for the company was highly motivating, encouraging employees to innovate beyond their standard job descriptions and take ownership of new projects.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am very motivating to work." but "I am very motivated to work." — Use 'motivating' to describe the thing that gives energy, and 'motivated' to describe the person who feels that energy.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'seem', or 'find'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.