1
2
3
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
drove the plunger into the opening
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to force
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the corrupt governor was driven out of office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to activate
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to travel
to proceed or move quickly
the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
raced our motorcycles along the drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in campaign
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in desire
a strong wish for something
a drive to succeed in the television news business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in energy
active strength of body or mind
senior citizens who exercise regularly are more likely to have the drive to keep up with their grandchildren
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
a great opportunity for a sales representative who is full of drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drive
Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 25 July 2025
The company eventually evolved to using trucks — Jim Janssen recalled driving the milk trucks at just 11.
—Emma George-Griffin, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
Umar Shakir, The Verge, 7 Feb. 2023
As part of the drive for efficiency, NHS managers were pressured to keep bed vacancies low.
—David Luhnow, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for drive
Verb
Ananya, driven by loyalty to her grandmother’s legacy and her own political ambitions, reboots this project with ruthless determination.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 25 July 2025
The company eventually evolved to using trucks — Jim Janssen recalled driving the milk trucks at just 11.
—Emma George-Griffin, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
Noun
Details sent to the company included the health and read / write values of the drive using CrystalDiskInfo, which is a program that can read the SMART data embedded in most hard disks.
—Umar Shakir, The Verge, 7 Feb. 2023
As part of the drive for efficiency, NHS managers were pressured to keep bed vacancies low.
—David Luhnow, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for drive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
-
Angelo’s son, Joseph, ran the store and lived on the second floor until the 1970s.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
29 July 2025
-
Now, billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy is running to replace Gov. Mike DeWine, who cannot run again because of term limits.—
Jessie Balmert,
The Enquirer,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
Yet, Yandy Diaz and the Rays’ offense have been motoring along at a rapid clip during a 22-9 run that has improved their overall mark from 21-26 to 43-35 and within 2.5 games of the Yankees in the American League East.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
But while motoring out in the dark that morning, Pebley, 42, noticed that the throttle on his surface drive motor had started to stick.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement While New York City has remained the country’s largest sanctuary city, its status as such and Mayor Eric Adams’ desire to push back against the federal government has come into question.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
26 July 2025
-
Folklore Reaches Half a Decade on the Billboard 200 Folklore advances on the Billboard 200, pushing from No. 77 to No. 68 at the moment.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
In 2022, then-Land Commissioner George P. Bush forced Paxton into a runoff in his bid for a third term for attorney general.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
So far nothing is forcing the city to even help arrest immigrants, even if Immigration and Customs Enforcement asks. Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) has introduced House Bill 26, which directs state and local authorities to assist ICE.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Leo activates your solar 10th house, urging bold moves, leadership, and visibility.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
24 July 2025
-
The wallet has already seen broad international adoption, with more than 100 million users globally having activated their wallets in 2024.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Residents of several communities were ordered to move inland to higher ground.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
-
These days, the model keeps a low profile and has completely moved away from the limelight.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Over the water, the crucial news traveled that entire night in the form of questions and answers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
It’s thought that Netanyahu may travel to New York in September, prior to the mayoral election, to speak at the U.N. General Assembly’s world leaders meeting.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
As Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully landed its 6-foot-tall lunar lander on the moon’s surface around 2:34 a.m. Sunday morning, cheers erupted at the watch party at Haute Spot in Cedar Park, just down the road from where 50 Firefly operators monitored the landing.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
Several road projects are in progress around the new Department of Veterans Affairs medical center on Brownsboro Road, which is scheduled to open to patients in 2026.—
Leo Bertucci,
The Courier-Journal,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share