motivation
9 synonyms for motivation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The desire, drive, or reason behind a person's actions.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use motivation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
lack of motivation
source of motivation
financial motivation
Etymology
From motivate + -ion, following the pattern of French motivation and German Motivation.
Full origin of motivation →Frequently asked questions
What does “motivation” mean?
The word “motivation” means the desire, drive, or reason behind a person's actions. In plain terms, the reason or drive behind why someone does something.
How do you pronounce “motivation”?
“Motivation” is pronounced MOH-tih-vay-shuhn (/ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “motivation” in a sentence?
Here is “motivation” used in a sentence: “His main motivation for studying medicine was his grandmother's illness.”
What part of speech is “motivation”?
“Motivation” is a noun.
Where does the word “motivation” come from?
The word “motivation” comes from French. From motivate + -ion, following the pattern of French motivation and German Motivation.
Is “motivation” a common word?
“Motivation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between motivation and inspiration?
Motivation is the internal desire or drive that pushes a person to act and keep acting, while inspiration is a sudden spark or influence that makes someone want to do something. Motivation sustains ongoing effort; inspiration often triggers the initial idea.
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?
Intrinsic motivation comes from within, such as enjoyment of the task itself, while extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards like money, grades, or praise. Both describe the reason or drive behind a person's actions.
What is the difference between motivation and motive?
A motive is the specific reason behind a particular action, often a single cause, while motivation is the broader drive or willingness that energizes behaviour over time. You may have one motive for an act but ongoing motivation to keep going.
Is it 'motivation to' or 'motivation for'?
Both are correct depending on what follows. Use 'motivation to' before a verb, as in 'motivation to study', and 'motivation for' before a noun, as in 'motivation for the change'.
