drive 1 of 2

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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
The franchise has driven over half a billion hours of streams, with the original accounting for more than 280 hours. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 May 2025 Fremaux first visited Cannes in 1979, driving from Lyon in a truck. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 25 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
  • In an administration currently running the lowest early-months public opinion rating in modern history, however, Vance’s forcefulness carries long-term risk.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Finally, the Liberty got to enjoy the final piece of last year’s thrilling WNBA Finals run by watching the elusive title banner rise up to the rafters before Saturday’s 92-78 season-opening win against the Las Vegas Aces.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • The man appears to briefly lift the scooter away from the child’s leg, the child gets back on the scooter, and Miller eventually motors away.
    Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Those motoring to work in a Rolls-Royce aren’t being left out, either.
    Susan Campos, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • As Nuno pointed out, the player of the season award could reasonably have been renamed the ‘team of the season award’ during a campaign in which Forest followed up back-to-back fights against relegation by pushing for Champions League qualification.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Raw materials such as gold and copper have been excluded from U.S. tariffs and the industry is pushing for diamonds to also be excluded.
    Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Some have succeeded in slashing sales and forcing policy changes.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • Speechless in Idaho Dear Speechless: There is no way to force a bully to stop.
    Mark Mondier, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • Take these steps to win bonus bets for basketball, baseball, hockey and other sports this weekend: Follow the links on this page to activate the welcome offer.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
  • Both labor-intensive and time-consuming, the tool required food professionals and at-home cooks to literally rotate its handle to activate the accompanying beater(s).
    Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • If the execution moves forward this time, Smith will be the first inmate executed in Tennessee since 2020 and the 19th in the U.S. this year.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Enterprise software stacks tend to move, blend, shift and drift over time as software developers and data scientists skew them one way or another depending on the need for new applications, the use of different toolsets and the adoption of different development methodologies.
    Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Best Amazon Comfortable Shoe and Clothing Deals When traveling on assignment, my first packing priority is always comfortable shoes that can keep up with my busy schedule and not leave me with tired, achy feet at the end of the day.
    Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025
  • In previous postseasons — many of which ended with disappointing early eliminations — the Dodgers would use one wide-body plane to shuttle players, coaches, executives, staff, broadcasters and other members of their bloated playoff traveling party from city to city.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The match concluded a wild road trip that saw Sporting play three road matches in eight days.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2025
  • Musk says that to solve traffic issues, roads must go 3D, which means either flying cars or tunnels are needed.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

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