Drive meaning

What does “drive” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“drive” is a noun and verb with 34 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the act of applying force to propel something.

drive

noun

  1. the act of applying force to propel something

    “after reaching the desired velocity the drive is cut off”

  2. a mechanism by which force or power is transmitted in a machine

    “a variable speed drive permitted operation through a range of speeds”

  3. a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end

    “he supported populist campaigns”

    “they worked in the cause of world peace”

  4. a road leading up to a private house

    “they parked in the driveway”

  5. the trait of being highly motivated

    “his drive and energy exhausted his co-workers”

  6. hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver

    “he sliced his drive out of bounds”

    Synonymsdriving
  7. the act of driving a herd of animals overland

  8. a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)

    “he took the family for a drive in his new car”

    Synonymsride
  9. a physiological state corresponding to a strong need or desire

  10. (computer science) a device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium

  11. a wide scenic road planted with trees

    “the riverside drive offers many exciting scenic views”

    Synonymsparkway
  12. (sports) a hard straight return (as in tennis or squash)

verb

  1. operate or control a vehicle

    “drive a car or bus”

    “Can you drive this four-wheel truck?”

  2. travel or be transported in a vehicle

    “We drove to the university every morning”

    “They motored to London for the theater”

    Synonymsmotor
  3. cause someone or something to move by driving

    “She drove me to school every day”

    “We drove the car to the garage”

  4. force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically

    “She rammed her mind into focus”

    “He drives me mad”

    Synonymsforceram
  5. to compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly

    “She is driven by her passion”

  6. cause to move back by force or influence

    “repel the enemy”

    “push back the urge to smoke”

  7. compel somebody to do something, often against his own will or judgment

    “She finally drove him to change jobs”

  8. push, propel, or press with force

    “Drive a nail into the wall”

  9. cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force

    “drive the ball far out into the field”

  10. strive and make an effort to reach a goal

    “She tugged for years to make a decent living”

    “We have to push a little to make the deadline!”

  11. move into a desired direction of discourse

    “What are you driving at?”

    Synonymsgetaim
  12. have certain properties when driven

    “This car rides smoothly”

    “My new truck drives well”

    Synonymsride
  13. work as a driver

    “He drives a bread truck”

    “She drives for the taxi company in Newark”

  14. move by being propelled by a force

    “The car drove around the corner”

  15. urge forward

    “drive the cows into the barn”

  16. proceed along in a vehicle

    “We drive the turnpike to work”

    Synonymstake
  17. strike with a driver, as in teeing off

    “drive a golf ball”

  18. hit very hard, as by swinging a bat horizontally

    “drive a ball”

  19. excavate horizontally

    “drive a tunnel”

  20. cause to function by supplying the force or power for or by controlling

    “The amplifier drives the tube”

    “steam drives the engines”

  21. (hunting) search for game

    “drive the forest”

  22. (hunting) chase from cover into more open ground

    “drive the game”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University