WordLens

drive

1 of 2verb
/dɹaɪv/
Forms:drives,driving,drove,driven
1

to control the movement and the speed of a car, bus, truck, etc. when it is moving

A1
  • You should drive with both hands on the steering wheel.
  • I usually drive to school, but today I'm taking the bus.
  • I like to drive along scenic routes to enjoy the countryside.
  • After a long day at work, he prefers to drive home in silence.
  • Please be careful and drive within the speed limit.
2

to force something into or through another object using physical effort or a tool

transitive
  • He used the heavy machinery to drive the pile into the ground during construction.
  • She used a hammer to drive the nail into the wooden board.
  • The worker drove the stake into the soil to secure the tent.
  • They drove the metal rod into the concrete to anchor the framework.
  • The carpenter drove the peg into the joint to hold it firmly.
3

to make someone act in a specified way, particularly one that is considered inappropriate or unacceptable

  • Greed can drive individuals to make unethical decisions in pursuit of wealth.
  • The fear of failure drove her to push herself beyond her limits.
  • Competition among team members drove them to excel in their performance.
  • The desire for revenge can drive individuals to commit hurtful acts.
  • The need to provide for his family drove him to take on multiple jobs.
4

to move, propel, or throw with great force

transitive
  • The wind drove rain against the windowpane.
  • The strong wind drove the leaves across the street.
  • Snowflakes were driven horizontally by the strong blizzard.
  • The turbulent river currents drove the small boat dangerously close to the waterfall.
5

to push someone to try or work extremely hard to reach a goal

transitive
  • He's been driving himself too hard lately, and it's affecting his health.
  • The exploitative factory owner had no regard for labor laws, using every means to drive workers beyond their limits.
  • The unscrupulous employer implemented strategies to drive employees mercilessly.
  • In some sweatshops, the goal is to drive workers relentlessly.
  • The authoritarian manager's approach was to drive employees through fear tactics.
Synonyms:
pushlabourtuglabor
6

to compel a group of animals or people to move in a certain direction

transitive
  • The firefighters worked tirelessly to drive the residents out of the burning building.
  • The police officers drove the protesters away from the restricted area.
  • The shepherd used his staff to drive the flock toward the grazing area.
  • They drove the horses into the corral before the storm arrived.
  • The sheepdog helped the farmer drive the sheep into the pen.
Synonyms:
aimget
7

to generate the power necessary to make a machine work

transitive
  • Hydroelectric dams drive the turbines to generate energy.
  • The waterwheel is used to drive the mill's machinery.
  • Wind turbines are designed to drive electricity generators.
  • Solar panels can drive the lights in the house.
  • The motor drives the conveyor belt in the factory.
8

(primarily in ball games) to kick or hit the ball with such force that sends it flying forward

transitive
  • With a strong kick, he drove the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
  • His baseball swing allowed him to drive the ball into the outfield.
  • The soccer player managed to drive the ball into the top corner of the goal.
  • She used her powerful swing to drive the ball over the net in tennis.
  • The golfer drove the ball straight down the fairway with precision.
9

to use force in order to create an opening through something

transitive
  • The construction crew drove a path through the dense forest.
  • To reach the other side, they had to drive a tunnel through the mountains.
  • Engineers decided to drive a passage through the bedrock for the new subway line.
  • Workers used heavy machinery to drive a trench through the frozen ground.
  • The team worked tirelessly to drive a channel through the ice for the research vessel.
10

(in sports) to advance with the ball toward the goal, aiming to score points or create opportunities for the team

  • In basketball, the point guard's ability to drive through the defense is crucial for setting up scoring plays.
  • In the final minutes of the game, he used his speed to drive past the defenders and score a crucial basket.
  • During the basketball game, the point guard led a fast break, skillfully dribbling to drive towards the basket for a layup.
  • As the rugby team gained possession, they quickly formed a coordinated attack to drive towards the try line.