drove

1 of 2

noun

ˈdrōv 

1

: a group of animals driven or moving in a body

2

: a large number : crowd

—usually used in plural especially with in

came in droves

drove

2 of 2

past tense of drive

Synonyms of drove

Noun

• flock
• swarm
• throng
• crowd
• horde

Examples of drove in a Sentence

Noun

people flocked to the annual festival in droves

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But creativity demands discipline — something Diggins will provide in droves. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

The Allegheny National Forest, located in northwest Pennsylvania, is home to the wondrous Photinus carolinus species of synchronous lightning bugs—the same ones that bring droves to the Smokies each year. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026

But across the country, families — first in smatterings, now in droves — are declining the single, inexpensive injection given at birth to newborns to help their blood clot. —Duaa Eldeib, CNN Money, 8 May 2026

When top players skip ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 events, the rung below a Grand Slam, fans still come in their droves. —Ava Wallace, New York Times, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English drāf, from drīfan to drive — more at drive

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing drove

• drove him to an early grave

Rhymes for drove

• cove
• rove
• shrove
• stove
• strove
• throve
• trove
• wove
• alcove
• mangrove

Kids Definition

drove

1 of 2 noun

ˈdrōv 

1

: a group of animals driven or moving in a body

2

: a crowd of people moving or acting together

drove

2 of 2

past of drive

Etymology

Noun

Old English drāf "group of animals moving together," from drīfan "to drive"