motor 1 of 2

noun

ˈmō-tər How to pronounce motor (audio)
Definition of motornext
1
as in engine
a device that changes energy into mechanical motion the device was equipped with a small electrical motor to make the gears spin

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2
as in car
a self-propelled passenger vehicle on four wheels went shopping for a new automobile at Valley Motors

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motor

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly effortlessly motored past the other runners for a first-place finish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to drive
to travel by a motorized vehicle motoring along the highway at the speed limit

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motor
Noun
Turning an electric motor into a launcher Lai kicked things off by explaining that the basic principles behind Auriga’s system were already well established. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026 Because the Ariane 6 rocket is expendable, Europe must increase production of all of the vehicle’s elements, from its solid-rocket motors to first-stage engines, in addition to upper stages and payload fairings. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
In the fifth, Harper lined a ball into the gap in left-center field and motored around to third base for a two-run triple. — ABC News, 20 June 2026 That company could motor to file and try to leapfrog Anthropic this summer. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for motor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motor
  1. engine
  2. car
  3. speed
  4. drive
  5. machine
  6. automobile
  7. race
  8. tool
Noun
  • The twin-engine, turbo-prop aircraft are pressurized, seat up to nine passengers and have the ability to cruise at 330 mph at 28,000 feet, Security Aviation says.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Ustyle’s engine provides a workaround to the otherwise gargantuan task of re-shooting as many outfits as there are combinations in a collection.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of engine
Noun
  • Police Chief Christopher Egan told CBS News Detroit that the flyers may be from a group from Ohio and appeared to have been tossed out of a car window.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Inside the luxury car were Berezovska’s two alleged accomplices – Vladyslav Reut and Vitaliy Zhykovych.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of car
Verb
  • Saltwater speeds up rust and wear, plants need regular care, docks face storms and tides, and equipment like generators, solar panels, and desalination systems will eventually need replacing.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Cubing the butter speeds things up by increasing surface area.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of speed
Verb
  • Recordings of Rajab’s call with paramedics gained international attention, driving calls for accountability for her killing and that of thousands of other children in Gaza.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, also released Friday, showed greater pessimism about the economy this month, likely driven by stubbornly high prices.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of drive
Noun
  • Springdale's mayor, Joel Anderson, said the machines are a significant local revenue generator through their entertainment tax.
    — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The lovely pool at the top of the property has a generous sunbathing area and fabulous views over the city and there’s a 24/7 gym up there with an al fresco area kitted out with brand new TechnoGym machines.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of machine
Noun
  • Everything is getting more expensive, and that includes automobiles.
    — Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecutors say the boy has been charged with one count of assault with intent to murder, one count of discharge of a firearm in or at a building, one count of unlawfully driving away in an automobile, and three counts of felony firearm.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of automobile
Verb
  • In this dawning age of artificial intelligence, tech companies are racing to train and run their large language models using massive data centers that guzzle electricity and strain resources.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As the ball entered the 6-yard box, LAFC’s Jeremy Ebobisse raced across and attempted a clearance.
    — Daily News, Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of race
Verb
  • One of the industry’s biggest challenges is tooling, as manufacturers must design, fabricate, and qualify physical dies and molds before production can begin.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Hig spends his days tooling around in an old Cessna, looking for supplies, survivors or signs of life, trying to stay ahead of scavengers known as Reapers, when he is drawn outside the perimeter and finds Cima (Margaret Qualley).
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 30 July 2026
Definition of tool

Phrases Containing motor

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motleys
motor
motorboat
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Cite this Entry

“Motor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motor. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on motor

Nglish: Translation of motor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motor

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