Basic Details
Word: Incentive
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Something that encourages a person to do something or work harder.
Synonyms: Motivation, encouragement, inducement
Antonyms: Deterrent, disincentive
Idioms and Phrases
- Sweeten the deal: To make an offer more appealing by adding benefits. Example: "The manager decided to sweeten the deal by offering extra holidays in addition to a salary raise."
- Carrot and stick approach: A method of encouraging behaviour by using rewards and punishments. Example: "The teacher uses a carrot and stick approach to motivate her students to complete their homework."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Offering small rewards can serve as an incentive for students to improve their grades.
Example 2: The promise of a pizza party was a great incentive for the team to finish the project on time.
Example 3: Many companies provide financial incentives to encourage their employees to meet performance goals.
Fun Fact
The word "incentive" comes from the Latin word "incentivus," which means "to stir up." This shows how incentives are meant to motivate or inspire action.
Famous Quote
"The greatest incentive is to make people want to do what you want them to do automatically." John C. Maxwell
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "incentive" mean?
a) A type of punishment
b) Something that encourages action
c) An obstacle
d) A task that must be completed
Answer: b) Something that encourages action
2. Which of these is a synonym of "incentive"?
a) Deterrent
b) Motivation
c) Hindrance
d) Challenge
Answer: b) Motivation
3. What is an antonym of "incentive"?
a) Encouragement
b) Reward
c) Deterrent
d) Motivation
Answer: c) Deterrent
4. Which sentence uses "incentive" correctly?
a) The incentive made him feel unhappy.
b) They offered an incentive to encourage more people to join.
c) The incentive was worked on the table.
d) The dog was given an incentive to chase the ball.
Answer: b) They offered an incentive to encourage more people to join.
5. Which idiom relates to the idea of "incentive"?
a) Carrot and stick approach
b) Hitting the nail on the head
c) A stitch in time saves nine
d) Apple of my eye
Answer: a) Carrot and stick approach
