noun
motivation
MOH-tih-vay-shuhn
noun
1
The desire, drive, or reason behind a person's actions.
"His main motivation for studying medicine was his grandmother's illness."
"Lack of motivation is often the biggest obstacle to exercising regularly."
How to Use Motivation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe reason or drive behind why someone does something.
Common pairings
lack of motivation
source of motivation
financial motivation
Word Forms
motivations plural
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His main _____ for studying medicine was his grandmother's illness.
Etymology
From motivate + -ion, following the pattern of French motivation and German Motivation.