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

In the last 20 minutes before kick, droves of fans have made their way into the stadium and the energy is starting to pick up. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2026

Join the droves of shoppers buying this cute henley top with a relaxed fit. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

As a Finch affair, fashion, film and art crowds turned out in droves to support, with Bettina Korek, Caitríona Balfe, Tom Blyth, Marisa Abela, Isla Fisher and Laura Weir among the turnout. — Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 25 June 2026

Tyler Freeman's sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run, Cole Carrigg had three RBIs and the Colorado Rockies rallied past the Boston Red Sox 8-6 on Wednesday. — CBS News, 24 June 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"