noun · neutral

motivation

UK/ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃən/US/ˌmoʊtɪˈveɪʃən/mo·ti·VA·tion

Band 5-6speakingtask2

the reason or drive that makes someone want to do something

Examples

Lack of motivation can make students give up on difficult courses.

Teachers try to increase pupils' motivation by making lessons interesting.

Her motivation to improve came from wanting a better future.

Band 8 sentence

In my experience, intrinsic motivation generally produces more sustainable results than short-term external rewards.

Collocations

  • intrinsic motivation
  • lack of motivation
  • motivation for doing something

Word family

motivate verbmotivated adjectivemotivational adjective

Common mistakes

motivation of studyingmotivation for studying

many motivationsmany motivating factors

Say it for a higher band

5reason6incentive7+motivation

Synonyms

drive

incentive

Easily confused

incentive

The company offered financial incentives to improve productivity.

Related words

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In Work & Career

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