motivate
[verb]
Synonyms: inspire, arouse, cause, drive, induce, move, persuade, prompt, stimulate, stir

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

mo‧ti‧vate /ˈməʊtəveɪt, ˈməʊtɪveɪt $ ˈmoʊ-/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: motivated, motivational, motiveless; noun: motive, motivation; verb: motivate]

1. to be the reason why someone does something Synonym : drive:
Was he motivated solely by a desire for power?
motivate somebody to do something
We may never know what motivated him to kill his wife.

2. to make someone want to achieve something and make them willing to work hard in order to do this:
A good teacher has to be able to motivate her students.
motivate somebody to do something
The profit-sharing plan is designed to motivate the staff to work hard.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲