drive 1 of 2

1
as in to run
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to motor
to travel by a motorized vehicle I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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drive

2 of 2

noun

1
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

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb drive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of drive are actuate, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When might actuate be a better fit than drive?

The words actuate and drive can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When would impel be a good substitute for drive?

While the synonyms impel and drive are close in meaning, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When could move be used to replace drive?

In some situations, the words move and drive are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

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
Verb
Some of his early policies—not least his tariffs—have been implemented in messy ways, and have at times appeared to be driven by incompatible impulses. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025 From the stage is where Chen primarily drives the story of Bad Boy. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 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
  • Similar ads have been run for 9/11 and other times of crises.
    Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In the standard studies, climate models are run with and without the carbon dioxide that humanity has pumped into the atmosphere through fossil fuels and land use changes.
    John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Those motoring to work in a Rolls-Royce aren’t being left out, either.
    Susan Campos, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The plot is motored by their deft, defiant mouths.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In addition, if the artifacts were deliberately created by humans, the find would push back the timeline for human ivory processing by thousands of years.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The Justice Department is pushing for several changes, Dahlquist said on Monday during the trial.
    Patrick Maguire, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Read in English Post The Trump administration’s rapid escalation of a trade war with China has forced many companies to rethink their dependence on Chinese goods and access to the Chinese market—and face the prospect that the world’s two largest economies might be breaking up.
    Thomas Stackpole, Harvard Business Review, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Such environments can force the plane downward, disrupt its ability to climb, or reduce lift on the wings, according to aviation experts.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Blue Jays outfielder’s incredible play came just hours after Toronto activated him off the injured list to make his season debut.
    Jenna West, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • High quality incense can span a wide range of notes, often activated in inventive ways through the burning process.
    Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Some of those are moving along very well, especially the – with the Asian countries.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Trump’s looming tariffs announced at the start of this month, as well as the high tariff rates imposed on China in recent weeks, have caused many to question whether the administration is moving too quickly.
    Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Any adult who plans to travel around the country this summer, or any time after the enforcement deadline, must have a REAL ID or another federally compliant identification document in order to avoid delays.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The assailant allegedly drove up in the truck, kidnapped Amber and traveled away from Highway 360 towards the center of Arlington.
    Emily Krauser, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The road that leads to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Canada, is notoriously difficult to navigate, even for locals.
    Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The museum tracing the company’s history is just across the road from the coffee shop where Bastiaan Riemersma is sitting.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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