mo·ti·vat·ed
ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-təd
: provided with a motive : having an incentive or a strong desire to do well or succeed in some pursuit
a motivated employee
Courses are being offered on college campuses for those who are highly motivated but who without such help often drop out and are lost to society and themselves.—Carol Kort
In a sporting context, for example, athletes who consistently seem to play hard and rarely concede defeat are often described as highly motivated or "competitive" by the media.—Robert C. Eklund
motivated
2 of 2past tense and past participle of motivate
Cite this Entry
“Motivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motivated. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
