1
: one that imparts motion
specifically
: prime mover
2
: any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: such as
a
: a small compact engine
b
: internal combustion engine
especially
: a gasoline engine
c
: a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
3
: motor vehicle
especially
: automobile
1
a
: causing or imparting motion
b
: of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons
motor fiber
c
: of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement
motor areas of the brain
2
a
: equipped with or driven by a motor
b
: of, relating to, or involving an automobile
c
: designed for motor vehicles or motorists
motored; motoring; motors
1
: to travel by automobile : drive
2
: to move or proceed at a vigorous steady pace
motored down the field for a touchdown
: to transport by automobile
Synonyms
Noun
Verb
- barrel
- belt
- blast
- blaze
- blow
- bolt
- bomb [slang]
- bowl
- breeze
- bundle
- bustle
- buzz
- cannonball
- careen
- career
- chase
- course
- crack (on)
- dash
- drive
- fly
- hare
- hasten
- hie
- highball
- hotfoot (it)
- hump
- hurl
- hurry
- hurtle
- hustle
- jet
- jump
- nip
- pelt
- race
- ram
- rip
- rocket
- run
- rush
- rustle
- scoot
- scurry
- scuttle
- shoot
- speed
- step
- tear
- travel
- trot
- whirl
- whisk
- zip
- zoom
Examples of motor in a Sentence
Noun
the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin
went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors
Adjective
motor areas of the brain
Verb
We spent the afternoon motoring through the countryside.
The car motored slowly up the hill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Vance, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024
The Escalade Hybrid combined a 6.0-liter V-8 with a pair of electric motors and a small battery pack to whip up 332 hp and 367 ft-lb, while boosting gas mileage from the 2WD 6.2-liter’s 12 mpg city / 19 mpg highway to 20 mpg city and 21 highway.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2024
Patti Greco, Health, 14 Apr. 2023
Under braking, the e-axle and rear e-motor contribute to the stopping process, allowing the friction brakes to recharge the battery more effectively.
—WIRED, 29 Mar. 2023
Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Although Kadyrov has denied sending Chechen troops to Ukraine, there have been numerous sightings of heavily armed Chechen battalions motoring through the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
—Nicholas Waller, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2015
See all Example Sentences for motor 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
Your 2-year-old will love showing off their budding motor skills, creativity, social development, and independence.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024
The Escalade Hybrid combined a 6.0-liter V-8 with a pair of electric motors and a small battery pack to whip up 332 hp and 367 ft-lb, while boosting gas mileage from the 2WD 6.2-liter’s 12 mpg city / 19 mpg highway to 20 mpg city and 21 highway.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Pre-Motor Stage Parkinson's disease may begin decades before a person notices a single motor symptom.
—Patti Greco, Health, 14 Apr. 2023
Under braking, the e-axle and rear e-motor contribute to the stopping process, allowing the friction brakes to recharge the battery more effectively.
—WIRED, 29 Mar. 2023
Verb
Not quite a Saturday morning canyon carver, instead this Benz serves perfectly as the Sunday brunch cruiser, a true time capsule from a bygone era of motoring that Mercedes, and almost every automaker, can still learn from today.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Although Kadyrov has denied sending Chechen troops to Ukraine, there have been numerous sightings of heavily armed Chechen battalions motoring through the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
—Nicholas Waller, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2015
See all Example Sentences for motor
Dictionary Entries Near motor
Cite this Entry
“Motor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motor. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motor
1 of 3 noun
mo·tor
ˈmōt-ər 
1
: a machine that produces motion or power for doing work
a gasoline motor
electric motors
2
: motor vehicle
especially
: automobile entry 2
motor
2 of 3 adjective1
: causing or giving motion
motor power
2
a
: of, relating to, or being a nerve, neuron, or nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse to a muscle causing movement
motor nerves
b
: concerned with or involving muscular movement
motor areas of the brain
a motor reaction
3
a
: equipped with or driven by a motor
b
: of, relating to, or designed for use in an automobile
a motor accident
a motor mechanic
motor
3 of 3 verb
: to travel or transport by automobile : drive
Medical Definition
motor
adjective
mo·tor
ˈmōt-ər
1
: causing or imparting motion
2
: of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons
motor fibers
motor cells
3
: of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement
motor areas of the brain
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share