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

Additionally, the city's new WNBA team, the Portland Fire, will kick off its first season in May, drawing droves of fans to The Sports Bra. —Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026

Of course, Warsh’s view on the economy is one of 12 voting voices (and droves of other economists and regional bank presidents) on the future of the base rate. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026

The company’s brand has already suffered greatly under Musk’s leadership, with droves of potential buyers being pushed away by his inflammatory rhetoric and embrace of far-right ideals. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026

But that Kalshi will be able to interest its droves of sports bettors in other markets is by no means guaranteed. —Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 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

• clove
• 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"