English Reference
noun

motivation

n.
US /ˌmoʊtəˈveɪʃən/ UK /mˌəʊtɪvˈeɪʃən/ mo·ti·va·tion UK spelling motivations

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    the feeling of wanting to do something, especially when it involves hard work.

    the internal state or enthusiasm that drives an individual to act or perform a task.

    Simple

    It is hard to find the motivation to go to the gym when it is raining outside.

    In context

    The team's motivation plummeted after the third consecutive defeat, making it difficult for the coach to maintain a positive atmosphere during training sessions.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the specific reason why you do something.

    a specific factor, incentive, or reason that explains a person's behaviour or choices.

    Simple

    Money was his main motivation for taking the extra shifts at the factory.

    In context

    The detective struggled to identify a clear motivation for the crime, as the suspect had no prior connection to the victim or the property.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of giving someone a reason to do something or making them feel excited about it.

    the process or action of stimulating interest or enthusiasm in another person to achieve a goal.

    Simple

    The manager's style of motivation involves giving small rewards for every success.

    In context

    Effective employee motivation requires a sophisticated balance of financial incentives and genuine professional recognition.

    discouragement
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a measurement of how much an advertisement makes people want to buy a product.

    a research metric used to quantify the effectiveness of a commercial in influencing consumer purchase intent.

    Simple

    The agency used a motivation score to see if the new TV ad would actually increase sales.

    In context

    The study analysed the motivation levels of the target demographic, concluding that the emotional appeal of the campaign significantly outweighed the rational arguments.

    Usage

    Commonly used in market research and advertising analytics.

    consumer intent

Usage primary motivation

Turn that burning resentment into insight and motivation.

The New York Times· 14 Aug 2026

The park offers a protected environment for the carnivores, Stahler says, making it a “wolf fortress.” One of the big motivations for recovering wolves was to bring back a top carnivore to the landscape.

Smithsonian Magazine· 31 Jul 2026

From French motivation. Morphologically motivate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French motivation
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated