motivation
gb/mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/ us/mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 7800
motiváció, kedv, indíték, ösztönző, hajtóerő, ösztönzés
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] has / loses / finds motivation to [do something]
After the exam results, she suddenly had new motivation to study harder.
A vizsgaeredmények után hirtelen új motivációt kapott, hogy keményebben tanuljon.
I just don't have any motivation to go to the gym this week.
Ezen a héten egyszerűen nincs motivációm lemenni az edzőterembe.
Coaches try to increase players' motivation before an important game.
His main motivation to learn English is to get a better job abroad.
Listening to music gives me enough motivation to finish my work.
Learner examples
I have no motivation to clean my room today.
Ma semmi kedvem kitakarítani a szobámat.
Her teacher helped her find motivation to read more books.
A tanára segített neki motivációt találni ahhoz, hogy több könyvet olvasson.
Good feedback from my boss gives me motivation to work hard.
He lost his motivation after he failed the test.
Friends can give you motivation when you feel tired.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "motivation" with "inspiration". "Inspiration" is a sudden good idea or feeling from something beautiful or special, while "motivation" is the longer-lasting desire that helps you keep working. Learners also sometimes say *"motivation for do something"*; the correct pattern is usually "motivation to do something" or "motivation for doing something".
Meaning
desire and energy to act
Collocations
lose motivation
|find motivation
|lack motivation
|boost motivation
|high motivation
|strong motivation
Synonyms
drive (Suggests strong energy and determination, especially for success or hard work.)
Antonyms
apathy (Means not caring or not being interested in doing anything.)
Themes
emotions
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The feeling that makes you want to do something and work hard at it.
The inner desire and willingness to act or work in order to achieve a goal.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s motivation for [doing something]
Investigators are still trying to understand the attacker's motivation.
A nyomozók még mindig próbálják megérteni a támadó indítékát.
His motivation for volunteering every weekend is not completely clear.
Nem teljesen világos, mi motiválja arra, hogy minden hétvégén önkénteskedjen.
Some people questioned the company's motivation for supporting the new law.
She insists that her only motivation was to help her friend.
The judge considered the defendant's motivation when deciding the sentence.
Learner examples
We do not know the thief's motivation for stealing the car.
Nem tudjuk, mi volt a tolvaj indítéka az autó ellopására.
Her main motivation for moving was to be closer to her family.
A költözésének fő oka az volt, hogy közelebb lehessen a családjához.
People had different motivations for joining the project.
The teacher asked the student about his motivation for cheating.
They tried to find the true motivation behind the decision.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "motivation" only for positive actions. In this sense, it can be positive or negative: you can talk about a criminal's motivation or a politician's motivation. Also, many learners use "reason" where "motivation" is better when talking about deeper or hidden causes, especially in news and legal contexts.
Meaning
reason behind an action
Collocations
question someone's motivation
|hidden motivation
|true motivation
|political motivation
|personal motivation
|underlying motivation
Synonyms
motive (A slightly more formal or legal word for the reason someone does something, especially something wrong or serious.)
Antonyms
aimlessness (Describes acting without a clear reason, goal, or purpose.)
Themes
thinking
|ethics
|law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The reason why someone does something or decides something.
The reason or reasons that explain why someone behaves in a particular way or makes a particular decision.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[something] provides / offers motivation for [someone]
The bonus will be an extra motivation for staff to reach their targets.
A bónusz további ösztönző lesz a dolgozók számára, hogy elérjék a céljaikat.
Clear career paths can be a strong motivation for employees to stay with a company.
Az egyértelmű karrierutak erős ösztönzőt jelenthetnek a munkavállalók számára, hogy a cégnél maradjanak.
For many students, the scholarship is the main motivation to apply for the program.
The coach used the final match as motivation for the team to train harder.
Public recognition can be a powerful motivation for volunteers.
Learner examples
Money is a strong motivation for many workers.
A pénz sok dolgozó számára erős ösztönző.
The prize is good motivation for the children to read more books.
A díj jó ösztönzés arra, hogy a gyerekek több könyvet olvassanak.
A kind word from a manager can be motivation to do better.
The teacher used games as motivation for the class.
Free tickets were motivation for people to join the event.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the inner feeling of motivation. Here, "motivation" is an outside thing (like money, a prize, or praise) that gives people a reason to work harder. In business texts, "incentive" is often more natural than "motivation" when talking about payments or rewards.
Meaning
thing that encourages effort
Collocations
extra motivation
|financial motivation
|added motivation
|provide motivation
|offer motivation
|give someone motivation
Synonyms
incentive (Very close in meaning, but more common in business and policy discussions.)
Antonyms
deterrent (Something that makes people less likely to do something, the opposite of motivation in this sense.)
Themes
business
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that you give or offer to people so that they will work harder or do something.
Something, such as money, praise, or a reward, that is given or promised to make people work harder or do something.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
motiváció
B2
Usage pattern:
theories of motivation in [field / context]
The course introduces major theories of human motivation and emotion.
A kurzus bemutatja az emberi motiváció és érzelem főbb elméleteit.
Researchers examined how intrinsic motivation affects long-term learning.
A kutatók azt vizsgálták, hogyan hat a belső motiváció a hosszú távú tanulásra.
In educational psychology, student motivation is a key factor in academic success.
The book provides an overview of motivation in the workplace from a psychological perspective.
The study explores the relationship between motivation, attention, and performance.
Learner examples
Psychologists study motivation to understand why people act in certain ways.
A pszichológusok azért tanulmányozzák a motivációt, hogy megértsék, miért cselekszenek az emberek bizonyos módokon.
The teacher read an article about student motivation in the classroom.
A tanár egy cikket olvasott a tanulói motivációról az osztályteremben.
Intrinsic motivation comes from inside a person, not from money or rewards.
Many books talk about motivation and how it changes behavior.
In this class, we will learn basic ideas about motivation and learning.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not realize that in academic texts, "motivation" has a more specific, technical meaning as a psychological process and is strongly connected to terms like "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" motivation. They may also confuse it with everyday "motivation" as simple interest or energy.
Meaning
psychological process driving behavior
Collocations
intrinsic motivation
|extrinsic motivation
|theories of motivation
|human motivation
|student motivation
|motivation and emotion
Synonyms
drive (In psychology, often used in the plural "drives" to talk about internal forces that push behavior.)
Antonyms
demotivation (Refers to processes or factors that reduce or destroy motivation.)
Themes
psychology
|science
|education
Definition
In psychology, the mental process that starts and controls our actions toward a goal.
In psychology, the internal process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-directed behavior.
Grammar
Dictionary form
motivation
IPA
GB/mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
US/mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
mo - tiv - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: motivation
- Plural: motivation, motivations
Word family
Expressions
extra motivation
1/ˈɛkstɹə mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
additional motivation
More motivation than before, which makes you try harder.
Examples
- The upcoming wedding gave him extra motivation to lose weight.
- Winning the first game was extra motivation for the team to train harder.
- The deadline is extra motivation to focus today.
find motivation
1/fˈaɪnd mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
start feeling motivated again
To get the feeling that makes you want to do something, especially after you did not feel it before.
Examples
- I finally found the motivation to clean my apartment this weekend.
- Talking to a friend helped him find motivation to apply for new jobs.
- She is trying to find motivation to finish her degree.
keep up the motivation
1/kˈip ˈʌp ðə mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
maintain motivation level
To continue feeling motivated and not lose interest or energy over time.
Examples
- It's hard to keep up the motivation when progress is slow.
- The coach used different strategies to keep up the motivation of the players.
- Setting small goals can help you keep up the motivation to study every day.
lack of motivation
1/lˈæk əv mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
not having motivation
A state where someone does not feel like doing anything or working toward a goal.
Examples
- The main problem in the class is a general lack of motivation among the students.
- His recent drop in performance seems to come from a lack of motivation, not a lack of skill.
- Exercise can help reduce your lack of motivation and low mood.
lose motivation
1/lˈuz mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
stop feeling motivated
To stop wanting to do something or stop feeling energy to continue it.
Examples
- Many people lose motivation after the first few weeks of a new exercise program.
- She lost motivation halfway through the project and never finished it.
- It's easy to lose motivation when you don't see quick results.
motivation letter
1/mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən lˈɛtɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
letter explaining your application
A formal letter where you say why you want a job, course, or scholarship and why you are a good person for it.
Examples
- Applicants must submit a CV and a motivation letter in English.
- In your motivation letter, explain why you chose this university.
- She spent the weekend rewriting her motivation letter for the scholarship.
source of motivation
1/sˈɔɹs əv mˌoʊtəvˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
thing that gives motivation
The person, thing, or idea that gives someone the desire and energy to do something.
Examples
- Her children are her main source of motivation to keep working.
- Coaches often try to be a strong source of motivation for young athletes.
- Clear goals can be a powerful source of motivation.