\ ˈdrīv
\
\
drove\
ˈdrōv
\; driven\
ˈdri-vən
\; driving\
ˈdrī-viŋ
\
\; driven\
ˈdri-vən
\; driving\
ˈdrī-viŋ
\
Definition of drive
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: 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
3a
: 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
4a
: 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
5a
: 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
7a
: 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
1a
: 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
2a
: 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 at
: to intend to express, convey, or accomplish
couldn't understand what she was driving at
plural drives
Definition of drive (Entry 2 of 2)
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
2a
: 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
4a
: 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
5a
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
6a
: 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
7a
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
8
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
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Synonyms for drive
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: 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
Examples of drive in a Sentence
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: Verb
At outlets with the voice system, there’s no longer a need for a person to take orders at the drive-thru window.
—
Will Knight, Wired, 7 June 2021
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are holding their graduations virtually again this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but drive-thru processions the day before at both schools will allow for more personal ways to celebrate.
—
San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2021
Police responded on June 12, 2020, to complaints that Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane of a Wendy's restaurant.
—
Kate Brumback, ajc, 4 June 2021
This outpost includes a drive-thru window and specializes in guava pastelitos, croquetas, empanadas, sandwiches, cakes and fresh-baked bread.
—
Phillip Valys, sun-sentinel.com, 3 June 2021
While there are no plans to expand the drive-thru model into other communities, the Misíon Cristiana Elim location is open to anyone, regardless of geography or income.
—
Maggie Prosser, chicagotribune.com, 3 June 2021
In the Starr County city of Roma, the fire department opened its bay doors and offered a drive-thru vaccination clinic.
—
Karen Brooks Harper And Carla Astudillo, San Antonio Express-News, 1 June 2021
During the pandemic, many fast-food restaurants have had brisk business at drive-thru windows.
—
Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 21 May 2021
On July 26, 2020, Hernandez-Cuesta fell asleep at the wheel of his car while placing an order at a drive-thru restaurant in Tualatin, according to court documents.
—
oregonlive, 20 May 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Her determination and drive convinced Alexander Froom, board president, who interviewed her for the position of office manager back in 2014.
—
Ivana Venema-nunez, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2021
Americans will spend like crazy and drive prices higher as the pandemic recedes.
—
Patrick W. Watson, Forbes, 14 June 2021
But that famously-short drive is no longer: highways are clogged with sometimes three columns of cars lined up at the stations outside of town waiting to fill up.
—
Washington Post, 14 June 2021
Their best chance Sunday came on Mike Tauchman’s drive to center in the sixth, which initially was ruled a catch by Victor Robles.
—
Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 June 2021
Semien’s drive into the batters’ eye in center made it 5-0 in the second, prompting loud boos from the Fenway Park crowd.
—
Ken Powtak, courant.com, 13 June 2021
So Mitchell needs to take that initial drive step in, then find the open man.
—
The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 June 2021
San Antonio, New Mexico San Antonio, New Mexico, is a little more than an 11-hour drive from San Antonio, Texas, about 90 miles south of Albuquerque.
—
Dennis Rudner, San Antonio Express-News, 12 June 2021
Two batters after Tatis' drive, Stroman walked Wil Myers and exited to a nice ovation.
—
Larry Fleisher, Star Tribune, 12 June 2021
See MoreThese 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.
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Last Updated
16 Jun 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drive. Accessed 19 Jun. 2021.
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More Definitions for drive
drive
verb
English Language Learners Definition of drive
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to direct the movement of (a car, truck, bus, etc.)
of a car, truck, etc.
: to move in a specified manner or direction
: to travel in a car
drive
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of drive (Entry 2 of 2)
: a journey in a car
: a hard area or small road outside of a house where cars can be parked
—used in the name of some public roads —abbr. Dr.
See the full definition for drive in the English Language Learners Dictionary
drive
verb
\ ˈdrīv
\
\
drove\
ˈdrōv
\; driven\
ˈdri-vən
\; driving\
ˈdrī-viŋ
\
Kids Definition of drive
(Entry 1 of 2)
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!
drive
nounKids Definition of drive (Entry 2 of 2)
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
drive
noun
\ ˈdrīv
\
\
Medical 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
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The first known use of drive was before the 12th century
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