MOTIVATE
motivate, actuate, propel, move, prompt, incite
(verb) give an incentive for action; “This moved me to sacrifice my career”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
motivate (third-person singular simple present motivates, present participle motivating, simple past and past participle motivated)
(transitive) To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage.
(transitive) To animate; to propel; to cause to take action
Antonyms
• demotivate
Source: Wiktionary
Mo"ti*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -vated; p. pr. & vb. n. -vating.]
[From Motive, n.]
Definition: To provide with a motive; to move; impel; induce; incite. --
Mo`ti*va"tion (#), n. William James.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition