drive 1 of 2

Definition of drivenext
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

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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
Often that drives me to the National Library of Scotland. Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026 The key hire comes at a time when Airbnb is expanding its business beyond accommodations into tours, individual services and other products to drive new growth. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
In fact, the clock stopped after six consecutive plays to end the drive, including twice when the Bears called timeout. Mike Sando, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026 The park, which opened as a drive-thru safari park in 1974 and later acquired by Six Flags, closed after 50 years of operation. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
  • Indu and Mahipal run a Hindu monastery, or ashram, in India called Hanslok that was founded by Mahipal’s father.
    Bernadette Toh, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Most of the other candidates lacked play-calling experience in the NFL, outside of Harris, Martindale, Lions assistant Jim O’Neil and Packers run game coordinator Demarcus Covington.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Still Talking, her final book, will star the same wonderful characters motoring through their days on tides of chat.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Wall Street motored higher through a remarkably calm summer thanks to euphoria around artificial-intelligence technology and strong profit reports from companies.
    Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The agent shoves the observer again, and then turns his attention to Pretti, pushing him out of the way before shoving the observer to the ground.
    Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • How the producers aren’t manipulative gods, but brilliant storytellers, animated by their own needs and insecurities, who sometimes push too hard in their quest to alchemize real people into three-act structure.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • With temperatures climbing above freezing and sunny skies melting half the structure, they were forced to start over entirely.
    Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Twenty-two people — two civilians and 20 firefighters — were injured and thousands were forced to evacuate.
    Claire Wang, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Neuroscience has long shown that watching another person experience pain activates the same neural regions as experiencing pain ourselves.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • By rolling MXene flakes into tubes, the team created hollow structures that allow ions to move more freely.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Karlee Smith jumped on a quad bike to help herd sheep away from the fast-moving flames on a farm in the town of Gellibrand, a small rural town, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southwest of Melbourne.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Although many in the crowd were his constituents, some people traveled hours to show their support.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
  • In many international markets, direct-to-consumer pricing does not travel well.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Roads and Railways The government has led the push for infrastructure capital expenditure through the roads and railways sectors, both of which are expected to receive higher allocations in the budget.
    Ashutosh Joshi, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Under the watchful eye of sheriffs deputies who threatened to ticket anyone caught standing in the road, along with a small number of National Guard members, the protesters took turns screaming swears and warming up in nearby parked cars.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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