drive
1 of 2verb
ˈdrīv 
drove ˈdrōv ; driven ˈdri-vən ; driving ˈdrī-viŋ
; driven ˈdri-vən ; driving ˈdrī-viŋ transitive verb
1
a
: to frighten or prod (game, cattle, etc.) into moving in a desired direction
drive cattle across the prairie
b
hunting : to go through (an area) driving game animals
drive the other side of the mountain
2
: to carry on or through energetically
drives a hard bargain
3
a
: to impart a forward motion to by physical force
Waves drove the boat ashore.
drive the nail into the beam
b
: to repulse, remove, or cause to go by force, authority, or influence
drive the enemy back
c
: to set or keep in motion or operation
drive machinery by electricity
d
basketball : to move quickly and forcefully down or along
drive the lane
drive the baseline
4
a
: to direct the motions and course of (a draft animal)
drive an ox
b
: to operate the mechanism and controls and direct the course of (a vehicle)
drive a car
c
: to convey in a vehicle
His father drove me home.
d
: to float (logs) down a stream
5
a
: to exert inescapable or coercive pressure on : force
driven by his passions
b
: to compel to undergo or suffer a change (as in situation or emotional state)
drove him crazy
drove her out of business
c
: to urge relentlessly to continuous exertion
the sergeant drove his recruits
d
: to press or force into an activity, course, or direction
The drug habit drives addicts to steal.
e
: to project, inject, or impress incisively
drove her point home
6
mining : to force (a passage) by pressing or digging
drive a tunnel
7
a
: to propel (an object of play) swiftly or forcefully
drove a long fly ball to the warning track
b
golf : to hit (a ball) from the tee especially with a driver (see driver sense f)
drove the ball down the fairway
also : to drive a golf ball onto (a green)
c
baseball : to cause (a run or runner) to be scored (see score entry 2 sense 4a(2)) —usually used with in
drove him in with a single
8
: to give shape or impulse to
factors that drive the business cycle
the ideas that have driven history
intransitive verb
1
a
: to dash, plunge, or surge ahead rapidly or violently
rudely drove past her
b
: to progress with strong momentum
the rain was driving hard
c
basketball : to make a quick and forceful move
driving to the hoop
2
a
: to operate a vehicle
learned to drive at the age of seventeen
b
: to have oneself carried in a vehicle
drove to Canada as a kid
3
golf : to drive a golf ball
drove down the fairway
drive
2 of 2noun
plural drives
often attributive
1
: an act of driving:
a
: a trip in a carriage or automobile
a short drive to the coast
b
: an instance of collecting and moving animals (such as game or cattle) together in a desired direction
also : the animals gathered and driven (see drive entry 1 sense transitive 1a)
c
: a driving of cattle or sheep overland
d
: a hunt or shoot in which the game is driven within the hunter's range
e
: the guiding of logs downstream to a mill
also : the floating logs amassed in a drive
f(1)
: the act or an instance of propelling an object of play (such as a golf ball) swiftly or forcefully
(2)
: the flight of a ball
a high drive to left field
2
a
: a private road : driveway
b
: a public road for driving (as in a park)
3
: the state of being hurried and under pressure
elude the ruthless drive of work and worry
S. H. Adams
S. H. Adams4
a
: a strong systematic group effort
a fund-raising drive
The school held a food drive [=an event to collect food items for donation] to benefit the local shelter.
b
: a sustained offensive (see offensive entry 1 sense 1) effort
the drive ended in a touchdown
5
a
mechanical engineering : the means for giving motion to a machine or machine part
b
: the means by which the propulsive power of an automobile is applied to the road
front wheel drive
c
: the means by which the propulsion of an automotive vehicle is controlled and directed
a left-hand drive
6
a
: an offensive, aggressive, or expansionist move
especially : a strong military attack against enemy-held terrain
b
basketball : a quick and aggressive move toward the basket
7
a
biology : an urgent, basic, or instinctual need : a motivating physiological condition of an organism
a sexual drive
b
: an impelling culturally acquired concern, interest, or longing
the drive to succeed
c
: dynamic quality
his drive and enthusiasm overcame all obstacles Times Literary Supplement
Times Literary Supplement8
computers : a device for reading or writing on magnetic, optical, or electronic media (such as tapes, disks, or flash memory)
broadly : memory sense 4
… the disk defragmenter doesn't just defrag a given drive… Barry Brenesal
see also hard drive Barry Brenesal 
Synonyms
Verb
- herd
- punch
- run
Noun
- arterial
- artery
- avenue
- boulevard
- carriageway [British]
- drag
- expressway
- freeway
- high road
- highway
- pass
- pike
- road
- roadway
- route
- row
- street
- thoroughfare
- thruway
- trace
- turnpike
- way
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He drove the car down a bumpy road. Do you want to drive or should I? He is learning to drive. The car stopped and then drove off. A car drove by us slowly. The bus slowly drove away. We drove all night and arrived at dawn. We drove 160 miles to get here. I drive on this route every day. I drive this route every day. Noun It's a two-hour drive to the beach. Her house is an hour's drive east of Los Angeles. We took a pleasant drive in the country. Would you like to go for a drive? A white car was parked in the drive. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 There are also plans for drive-thru clinics and to offer the flu vaccine at the same time. Fox News, 16 Sep. 2022 Volunteering at a nearby food bank over recent months, Silvestrini’s duty has been to stagger vehicles in a drive-thru line to collect food. Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Clavell is the second female executive interviewed for this second season of Latin Hitmaker, the podcast that tells the stories behind the executives who drive Latin music’s biggest stars and hits. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2022 But for a lot of us who live here who drive past these monuments, these aren’t just a tourist hotspot. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Online orders are being taken for drive-thru pickup of pumpkin spice or latte cream puffs during Harvest Fair at State Fair Park, Sept. 23 to 25. Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 The company even has refrigerated vehicles and a stable of local folks who drive. Marc Bona, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 Jonathan Schneller, one of Grossman’s attorneys, tried repeatedly throughout the hearing to convince the judge that Grossman’s actions were like those of thousands of Californians who drive dangerously. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 The vehicle featured large windows, offering the public a final glimpse for its drive from London to Windsor. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2022 Running backs Kenyan Drake and Mike Davis combined for 13 yards on eight carries on their near-11-minute drive that straddled the first and second quarters. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2022 The Raiders needed only a field goal to win, however, their drive ended with the Cardinals in the end zone. Emily Horos, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2022 Los Angeles turned it over on their ensuing drive when Darren Hall forced Kupp to fumble and recovered it at the Rams 37. Joe Reedy, ajc, 18 Sep. 2022 Just like last week — and the week before that — USC marched down the field on its opening drive and made an early statement. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 Miami got the ball back with 1:16 to play, but their drive stalled at midfield, and the offense could not convert on the game-ending fourth and four. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 The Raiders scored on their opening drive when Mathias Latham (11 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD) got to the edge for a 3-yard touchdown. Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
The changes are designed to keep YouTube Shorts competitive with TikTok in the race to attract and retain creators who drive valuable traffic on the sites. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 There are also plans for drive-thru clinics and to offer the flu vaccine at the same time. Fox News, 16 Sep. 2022 Volunteering at a nearby food bank over recent months, Silvestrini’s duty has been to stagger vehicles in a drive-thru line to collect food. Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 Clavell is the second female executive interviewed for this second season of Latin Hitmaker, the podcast that tells the stories behind the executives who drive Latin music’s biggest stars and hits. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2022 But for a lot of us who live here who drive past these monuments, these aren’t just a tourist hotspot. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Online orders are being taken for drive-thru pickup of pumpkin spice or latte cream puffs during Harvest Fair at State Fair Park, Sept. 23 to 25. Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 The company even has refrigerated vehicles and a stable of local folks who drive. Marc Bona, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 Jonathan Schneller, one of Grossman’s attorneys, tried repeatedly throughout the hearing to convince the judge that Grossman’s actions were like those of thousands of Californians who drive dangerously. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Noun
The Bears needed a desperate comeback because their offense couldn’t get going after scoring a touchdown on its first drive. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 The vehicle featured large windows, offering the public a final glimpse for its drive from London to Windsor. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2022 Running backs Kenyan Drake and Mike Davis combined for 13 yards on eight carries on their near-11-minute drive that straddled the first and second quarters. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2022 The Raiders needed only a field goal to win, however, their drive ended with the Cardinals in the end zone. Emily Horos, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2022 Los Angeles turned it over on their ensuing drive when Darren Hall forced Kupp to fumble and recovered it at the Rams 37. Joe Reedy, ajc, 18 Sep. 2022 Just like last week — and the week before that — USC marched down the field on its opening drive and made an early statement. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 Miami got the ball back with 1:16 to play, but their drive stalled at midfield, and the offense could not convert on the game-ending fourth and four. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 The Raiders scored on their opening drive when Mathias Latham (11 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD) got to the edge for a 3-yard touchdown. Nate Weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English, from Old English drīfan; akin to Old High German trīban to drive
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1c
Phrases Containing drive
Kids Definition
drive 1 of 2
verb
ˈdrīv
drove
ˈdrōv
; driven ˈdri-vən
; driving ˈdrī-viŋ
1
: to direct the movement of
drive a car
2
: to go or carry in a vehicle
drive into town
Mom drove me to school.
3
: to move using force
… he used his greater strength to drive the young mouse backwards. Brian Jacques, Redwall
Brian Jacques, Redwall4
: to push in with force
drive a nail
5
: to set or keep in motion or operation
The machines are driven by electricity.
6
: to carry through
drive a bargain
7
: to force to work or to act
The peasants were driven by hunger to steal.
8
: to bring into a particular condition
That noise is driving me crazy!
drive
2 of 2noun
1
: a trip in a vehicle
2
: driveway
3
: an often scenic public road
4
: an organized effort to achieve a goal
a fund-raising drive
5
: a strong natural need or desire
the drive to eat
6
: energy and determination to succeed
7
: an act of leading animals in a group to another place
a cattle drive
8
: the means for making a machine or machine part move
9
: a device in a computer that can read information off and copy information onto disks or tape
a disk drive
Medical Definition
drive
noun
ˈdrīv
1
: an urgent, basic, or instinctual need : a motivating physiological condition of the organism
a sexual drive
2
: an impelling culturally acquired concern, interest, or longing
a drive for perfection
drives 1 of 2
verb
1
as in runs
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- runs
- punches
- herds
- shepherds
- whips
- presses
- spurs
- hounds
- prompts
- prods
- wrangles
- eggs
- goads
- exhorts
- pricks
- scourges
- flogs
2
as in motors
to travel by a motorized vehicle I'm going to drive across the country—want to come? Synonyms & Similar Words
- motors
- rides
- automobiles
- tools
- races
- rolls
- drags
- chauffeurs
- taxis
- wheels
- taxies
- joyrides
- hacks
3
as in pushes
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one drove the plunger into the opening Synonyms & Similar Words
- pushes
- shoves
- propels
- thrusts
- moves
- forces
- squeezes
- jams
- impels
- compels
- compresses
- pressures
- squashes
- depresses
- rams
- bulldozes
- bears (down)
- muscles
- weighs (upon)
- leans (on or against)
4
as in forces
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure the corrupt governor was driven out of office Synonyms & Similar Words
- forces
- compels
- coerces
- obliges
- obligates
- impels
- pressures
- constrains
- makes
- impresses
- presses
- intimidates
- blackmails
- muscles
- drags
- dragoons
- threatens
- bullies
- sandbags
- bulldozes
- blackjacks
- cows
- terrorizes
- browbeats
- twists one's arm
- shames
- harasses
- menaces
- hectors
- badgers
- hounds
- high-pressures
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- allows
- permits
- lets
- moves
- argues
- induces
- satisfies
- talks (into)
- wins (over)
- convinces
- persuades
- prevails (on or upon)
5
as in activates
to cause to function machinery driven by waterpower Synonyms & Similar Words
- activates
- triggers
- sparks
- moves
- fuels
- generates
- runs
- starts
- pushes
- powers
- ignites
- provokes
- sets off
- actuates
- electrifies
- touches off
- fires
- turns on
- charges
- launches
- stimulates
- trips
- energizes
- switches
- accelerates
- cranks (up)
- releases
- incites
- turns over
- discharges
- kicks over
- instigates
- excites
- arouses
- recharges
- reactivates
- stirs up
- catalyzes
- jump-starts
- vitalizes
- kick-starts
- quickens
- steps up
- speeds (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- kills
- stops
- cuts
- sticks
- turns off
- brakes
- checks
- deactivates
- halts
- stalls
- arrests
- jams
- slows
- suppresses
- cuts out
- shuts off
- represses
- decelerates
- stunts
- cuts off
- draws up
6
as in moves
to set or keep in motion this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft Synonyms & Similar Words
- moves
- propels
- activates
- works
- impels
- stimulates
- motivates
- actuates
- triggers
- provokes
- incites
- raises
- trips
- foments
- inspires
- sets off
- galvanizes
- ferments
- instigates
- abets
- rouses
- inflames
- excites
- arouses
- whips (up)
- stirs (up)
- enflames
- fires (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restrains
- regulates
- checks
- inhibits
- contains
- controls
- constrains
- curbs
- reins (in)
- bridles
7
as in travels
to proceed or move quickly the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop Synonyms & Similar Words
- travels
- speeds
- rushes
- races
- chases
- runs
- flies
- hurries
- scurries
- trots
- zips
- jumps
- buzzes
- blows
- scoots
- steps
- rams
- rips
- shoots
- jogs
- blasts
- motors
- scuttles
- bolts
- dashes
- zooms
- bowls
- hustles
- darts
- hurls
- whirls
- tears
- barrels
- blazes
- courses
- careens
- whisks
- hurtles
- hastens
- humps
- belts
- rustles
- bundles
- rockets
- bustles
- breezes
- nips
- hies
- careers
- jets
- beats it
- pelts
- gallops
- hares
- bombs
- highballs
- cannonballs
- accelerates
- gets a move on
- shakes a leg
- flits
- makes tracks
- cracks (on)
- scampers
- steps on it
- whizzes
- sprints
- overtakes
- beetles
- streaks
- stampedes
- hotfoots (it)
- outruns
- scuffles
- outpaces
- scuds
- outstrips
- quickens
- steps out
- arrows
- beelines
- catches up
- fast-forwards
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- drags
- crawls
- lingers
- lags
- pokes
- creeps
- hangs (around or out)
- pokes
- loiters
- strolls
- saunters
- dawdles
- shuffles
- ambles
- tarries
- dallies
- plods
- decelerates
- lumbers
- slows (down or up)
- dillydallies
drives
2 of 2noun
1
as in roads
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel raced our motorcycles along the drive Synonyms & Similar Words
- roads
- highways
- streets
- routes
- freeways
- thoroughfares
- expressways
- roadways
- carriageways
- passes
- boulevards
- arteries
- turnpikes
- drags
- ways
- causeways
- arterials
- lanes
- thruways
- interstates
- rows
- pike
- avenues
- traces
- pikes
- bypasses
- motorways
- high roads
- parkways
- corridors
- tracks
- trails
- superhighways
- through streets
- alleys
- autobahns
- autoroutes
- ring roads
- dual carriageways
- beltways
- side streets
- autostradas
- secondary roads
- circles
- crossroads
- high streets
- byways
- places
- switchbacks
- corniches
- closes
- branches
- shunpikes
- autostrade
- side roads
- dead ends
- alleyways
- backstreets
- bystreets
- cul-de-sacs
- laneways
- mews
- Main Streets
- culs-de-sac
2
as in campaigns
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band Synonyms & Similar Words
- pushes
- campaigns
- movements
- causes
- crusades
- initiatives
- marches
- projects
- actions
- juggernauts
- blitzes
- attacks
- bandwagons
- bids
- maneuvers
- assaults
- missions
- enterprises
- offensives
- undertakings