drive
/draɪv/- 1.
to control a vehicle and make it move. It can also mean to take someone somewhere by car.
- I drive to work every day.
- Can you drive me home?
- 2.
to push, force, or move something in a strong way.
- The rain drove us inside.
- She drove the nail into the wood.
- 3.
to make someone work hard or act in a strong way. It can also mean to push progress or change.
- Ambition drives him to improve.
- The team is driven by clear goals.
a journey in a car or other vehicle. It can also mean an act of forcing or pushing forward.
- It was a long drive to the village.
- The company launched a sales drive.
Adinary Nuance
Drive is broader than many near-neighbors. Compared with 'ride', it usually means you control the vehicle, not just travel in it. Compared with 'push', it is stronger and often suggests force, pressure, or steady effort. In business or academic writing, 'drive' often means to cause progress, results, or change.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lái
- Spanish
- conducir
- Chinese
- 驾驶
- Japanese
- 運転する
- Korean
- 운전하다
Etymology
Drive comes from Old English drīfan, meaning 'to push' or 'to move forward'. The driving sense for vehicles developed later, as cars replaced horses and carts.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is drive a formal or informal word?
- It is common in both spoken and written English. Some senses, like 'drive change', sound more formal.
- What is the difference between drive and ride?
- You usually drive when you control the vehicle. You ride when you travel as a passenger or on an animal.
- Can drive mean motivation?
- Yes. It can mean strong energy, ambition, or force that makes someone act.
- Is drive used in academic writing?
- Yes, especially in phrases like 'drive innovation' or 'drive growth'.