spurred
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈspɝd// UK //spˈɜːd// spurred
v. to encourage someone to do something or to make a process happen faster. It is like giving someone a little push to get them moving.
v. to incite or stimulate an action or a person into activity. Often used in the past tense to describe a sudden increase in motivation or economic growth.
The low prices spurred many people to buy new cars.
The government's new tax breaks spurred significant investment in the local tech sector over the last fiscal year.
While the initial discovery was accidental, it spurred a decade of intensive research that eventually led to a breakthrough in renewable energy storage.
Usage
The verb is transitive and typically takes a direct object, often followed by an infinitive phrase ('spurred someone to do something').