drive
dryv
Drive (verb) means to operate and steer a motor vehicle. Example: “She drove to work every day.”
verb
1
To operate and steer a motor vehicle.
"She drove to work every day."
"He learned to drive when he was seventeen."
"My mother taught me to drive in an empty car park."
2
To motivate, push, or compel someone or something toward an outcome.
"Curiosity drives scientists to keep asking questions long after others have stopped."
"Ambition drove her to work harder than anyone else."
"A desire to help others drives many people to become nurses."
noun
1
A journey made in a vehicle.
"They went for a long drive along the coast."
"The drive to the airport took us nearly two hours in heavy rain."
"Shall we go for a drive in the countryside this afternoon?"
2
Strong motivation or determination to achieve something.
"He has the drive to succeed in business."
"Her drive and energy impressed everyone who worked with her on the project."
"Talent helps, but without drive you rarely finish anything difficult."
3
A device used to store and retrieve computer data.
"She backed up her files onto an external drive."
"My laptop has a fast drive, so programs open almost instantly."
"The drive stopped working, so we had to recover the photos from a copy."
How to use drive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo steer a vehicle, to push someone toward a goal, or (as a noun) either a car trip, personal ambition, or a computer storage device.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "drive" (ambition) with "driven" (an adjective meaning highly motivated) — related but used differently in a sentence.
Common pairings
drive a car
have the drive
hard drive
go for a drive
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Word forms
- Plural
- drives
- Third person singular
- drives
- Past tense
- drove, drave, driv, driven, druv
- Archaic forms
- drivest, drovest, driveth, dravest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He learned to _____ when he was seventeen.
Etymology
From Old English drifan, "to force onward or move," an ancient Germanic verb.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for drive
See all rhymes for drive →Frequently asked questions
What does “drive” mean?
The word “drive” means to operate and steer a motor vehicle. In plain terms, to steer a vehicle, to push someone toward a goal, or (as a noun) either a car trip, personal ambition, or a computer storage device.
How do you pronounce “drive”?
“Drive” is pronounced dryv (/dɹaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “drive” in a sentence?
Here is “drive” used in a sentence: “He learned to drive when he was seventeen.”
What part of speech is “drive”?
Depending on how it is used, “drive” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “drive” come from?
The word “drive” comes from Old English. From Old English drifan, "to force onward or move," an ancient Germanic verb.
Is “drive” a common word?
“Drive” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “drive” have?
“Drive” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to operate and steer a motor vehicle.
What is the difference between drive and ride?
You drive a vehicle when you are the one operating and steering it, such as a car, van, or lorry. You ride when you are a passenger, or when you sit astride something like a bicycle, motorbike, or horse. So a car's operator drives, while everyone else in the car rides, as does a cyclist.
What is the difference between drive and steer?
Steering is just one part of driving, turning the wheel to control direction. Driving is the whole task: steering plus accelerating, braking, changing gear, and watching the road. You steer a vehicle as part of the larger job of driving it. All driving involves steering, but steering alone is not driving.
Can drive mean something other than operating a vehicle?
Yes. Drive has many senses: to push or force something along ("drive cattle," "drive a nail"), to motivate ("ambition drives her"), to power a machine, and, as a noun, energy or determination. Most senses share the idea of forceful, purposeful movement, the same push behind steering a car forward.
What is the past tense of drive?
Drive is an irregular verb. The simple past is "drove," as in "she drove home," and the past participle is "driven," as in "she has driven for years." A common mistake is saying "have drove"; the correct form after has or have is always driven.
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