1 (usually passive 通常用于被动语态) to cause sb to act in a particular way 使某人以某方式行动；激起: Her reaction was motivated by fear. 她的反应出于恐惧。

2 to make sb want to do sth, especially sth that involves hard work and effort 激发做某事的兴趣，激励（尤指做费力的事情）: Our new teacher certainly knows how to motivate his classes. 我们的新老师无疑知道怎样激发学生的学习兴趣。I just can't motivate myself to do anything this morning. 今天早上我做什么都提不起精神。 ➔motivated adj highly motivated students 学习积极性很高的学生 ➔motivation /ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃn ||; ˌmotəˈveʃən/ noun [C,U] He's clever enough, but he lacks motivation. 他聪明是很聪明，就是缺乏干劲。