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Definition of drive
drove
play \ˈdrōv\;driven
play \ˈdri-vən\;driving
play \ˈdrī-viŋ\transitive verb
1a : to frighten or prod (game, cattle, etc.) into moving in a desired direction drive cattle across the prairieb 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
3a : to impart a forward motion to by physical force Waves drove the boat ashore. drive the nail into the beamb : to repulse, remove, or cause to go by force, authority, or influence drive the enemy backc : to set or keep in motion or operation drive machinery by electricityd basketball : to move quickly and forcefully down or along drive the lane drive the baseline
4a : to direct the motions and course of (a draft animal) drive an oxb : to operate the mechanism and controls and direct the course of (a vehicle) drive a carc : to convey in a vehicle His father drove me home.d : to float (logs) down a stream
5a : to exert inescapable or coercive pressure on : force driven by his passionsb : to compel to undergo or suffer a change (as in situation or emotional state) drove him crazy drove her out of businessc : to urge relentlessly to continuous exertion the sergeant drove his recruitsd : 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
7a : to propel (an object of play) swiftly or forcefully drove a long fly ball to the warning trackb golf : to hit (a ball) from the tee especially with a driver (see driver 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 2score 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
drive at
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Examples of drive in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of drive from the Web
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Gutierrez and a group of buddies from Honolulu prep school Punahou drove out in a Land Rover to the island of Oahu’s westernmost tip in 2015 to go camping.
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Jackson, who had 189 milligrams of alcohol in his system at the time, drove 60 miles in a gold Buick Century from the apartment to a gas station in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
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Released video shows at least four tracked and wheeled vehicles driving to the water’s edge at an unnamed location.
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Miami Heat’s forward James Johnson drives against Kings’ forward Rudy Gay in the second quarter of the Heat’s win at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Tues.
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However, raising funds takes away from driving their mission.
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That morning, Mckesson drove nine hours from Minneapolis to St. Louis to protest in the streets.
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Rather than spiriting the robbers away, Baby drives his car straight into a truck, deliberately killing Bats and sabotaging their getaway.
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Cunha was the driving force behind last year’s impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of drive
Middle English, from Old English drīfan; akin to Old High German trīban to drive
Synonym Discussion of drive
drive
Definition of drive
1 : an act of driving:a : a trip in a carriage or automobile a short drive to the coastb : an instance of collecting and moving animals (such as game or cattle) together in a desired direction; also : the animals gathered and driven (see 1drive transitive 1a)c : a driving of cattle or sheep overlandd : a hunt or shoot in which the game is driven within the hunter's rangee : the guiding of logs downstream to a mill; also : the floating logs amassed in a drivef (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
2a : a private road : drivewayb : 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
4a : a strong systematic group effort a fund-raising driveb : a sustained offensive (see 1offensive 1) effort the drive ended in a touchdown
5a mechanical engineering : the means for giving motion to a machine or machine partb : the means by which the propulsive power of an automobile is applied to the road front wheel drivec : the means by which the propulsion of an automotive vehicle is controlled and directed a left-hand drive
6a : an offensive, aggressive, or expansionist move; especially : a strong military attack against enemy-held terrainb basketball : a quick and aggressive move toward the basket
7a biology : an urgent, basic, or instinctual need : a motivating physiological condition of an organism a sexual driveb : an impelling culturally acquired concern, interest, or longing the drive to succeedc : dynamic quality his drive and enthusiasm overcame all obstacles — Times Literary Supplement
8 computers : a device for reading or writing on media (such as magnetic tape or optical disks)
Examples of drive in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of drive from the Web
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Basically what this means is that part of the drive runs as regular TLC flash allowing for better speeds.
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Smith can't afford to buy a car yet, but taking the bus would turn a 10-minute drive into an hour-plus commute and taking an Uber would cost over $20 a day.
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Thanks to Urrutia and My Valley Pass, visitors will be able to relive the classic drive-in experience this summer.
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Ho Tram sits a couple hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh City, in a mostly undeveloped stretch of dunes beside the South China Sea.
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Naturally, because this was 1995, the concept also included a CD drive and a stylus.
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Because virtually all of your printers, cameras, external hard drives, and podcasting mics still use it.
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After seeing Frazier's drive, on-deck hitter Holloway sprinted to the plate.
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Construction began earlier this week on another 1,200-square-foot drive-thru and take-out restaurant in Killen.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of drive
see 1drive
DRIVE Defined for English Language Learners
drive
playDefinition of drive for English Language Learners
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: to direct the movement of (a car, truck, bus, etc.)
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of a car, truck, etc. : to move in a specified manner or direction
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: to travel in a car
drive
Definition of drive for English Language Learners
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: a journey in a car
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: a hard area or small road outside of a house where cars can be parked
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: an effort made by a group of people to achieve a goal, to collect money, etc.
DRIVE Defined for Kids
Definition of drive for Students
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
4 : 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!
driver
\ˈdrī-vər\ nounDefinition of drive for Students
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
Medical Dictionary
drive
playMedical Definition of drive
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
Learn More about drive
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for drive Spanish Central: Translation of drive Nglish: Translation of drive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of drive for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drive
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