Cool MateEncourage vs Motivate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Encourage
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Motivate
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
| Encourage | Motivate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈkɜrɪdʒ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈməʊtɪveɪt/","/ˈməʊtɪveɪts/","/ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪd/","/ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈməʊtɪveɪt/","/ˈməʊtɪveɪts/","/ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪd/","/ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make someone want to do something or feel confident. | To make someone want to do something. |
| Example | Teachers always try to encourage their students to focus on their studies. | What motivates people to carry out such attacks? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | encourage someone to do something, encourage growth, encourage participation | motivate employees, motivate students, motivate oneself |
| Antonyms | discourage, dissuade | demotivate, discourage |
| Common mistakes | Using 'encourage' without an object (e.g. 'I encourage to study' instead of 'I encourage you to study')., Confusing with 'discourage' which means to make someone less confident., Using the wrong verb form after 'to' (e.g. 'encourage you study' instead of 'encourage you to study'). | Confused with 'motivation' as a verb., Using 'motivate' without an object., Mixing up 'motivate' with 'inspire' and using them interchangeably. |
| Usage notes | Used when you want to support someone in taking action or improving their situation. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. | Use 'motivate' when discussing encouragement or driving forces behind actions. It's appropriate in educational or professional contexts but may seem formal in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Encourage vs Motivate
What's the difference between Encourage and Motivate?
Encourage: To make someone want to do something or feel confident. Motivate: To make someone want to do something.
Which is more advanced: Encourage and Motivate?
Motivate is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Encourage and Motivate the same CEFR level?
Encourage: B1, Motivate: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Encourage and Motivate?
Encourage: verb, Motivate: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Encourage: Teachers always try to encourage their students to focus on their studies. Motivate: What motivates people to carry out such attacks?
Can I use Encourage and Motivate interchangeably?
Not always. Encourage and Motivate are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.