To encourage or motivate someone to try harder or achieve something
To push or encourage someone so they work harder or keep going
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To encourage a person to try harder, work faster, or continue with greater effort
"The crowd's cheering spurred the runners on in the final lap of the race."
The taunts of her classmates only spurred her on to greater achievements.
— The Guardian, general usage example
If something spurs someone on, it acts as the cause or stimulus that motivates them to take action
"His early failure in business spurred him on to study harder and eventually succeed."
Criticism only spurred me on.
— A common sentiment attributed to various athletes and public figures in interviews
Spurs are sharp devices fitted to a rider's boots to urge a horse forward; 'spur on' literally means to use those spurs to make a horse move faster
To push or encourage someone so they work harder or keep going
Comes from the image of using spurs on a horse to make it move faster. Used figuratively for people and can be used reflexively ('spur oneself on'). Often used in sports, business, and motivational contexts.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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