1. (

• motivation ,
• motive ,
• need

) the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior; "we did not understand his motivation"; "he acted with the best of motives" ;

2. (

• motivation

) the condition of being motivated; "his motivation was at a high level" ;

3. (

• motivation ,
• motivating

) the act of motivating; providing incentive ;