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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
4
as in to force
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the corrupt governor was driven out of office
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to activate
to cause to function
machinery driven by waterpower
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6
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
this motor drives the gears, which then turn the shaft
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7
as in to travel
to proceed or move quickly
the runner drove past the finish line and then came to a dead stop
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1
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
raced our motorcycles along the drive
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2
as in campaign
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band
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3
as in desire
a strong wish for something
a drive to succeed in the television news business
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4
as in energy
active strength of body or mind
senior citizens who exercise regularly are more likely to have the drive to keep up with their grandchildren
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5
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
a great opportunity for a sales representative who is full of drive
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of drive
David Chiu, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
These features, the company says, help drive repeat engagement without relying on theatrical robotic movements.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
After a promising opening drive, Young was largely subdued in a game where the opposing defense was sold out on the run.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drive
Verb
The department said that the teacher may have been driving a blue Honda Civic with Illinois plate # CX57470.
—Noun
The Wildcats’ drive was eight plays for 80 yards and took only two minutes of game time.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
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The woman running the daycare had attempted life-saving measures on the child before emergency services arrived, First Alert 4 reported.—
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Kaelon Black ran for two touchdowns to lead the Indiana running game.—
Verb
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Still Talking, her final book, will star the same wonderful characters motoring through their days on tides of chat.—
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Wall Street motored higher through a remarkably calm summer thanks to euphoria around artificial-intelligence technology and strong profit reports from companies.—
Verb
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But the billionaire has pushed back against guardrails for Grok within the firm, one source with knowledge of the situation at xAI told CNN.—
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More than three months after a fire destroyed more than a dozen businesses in a shopping center in Colorado's Nederland community, many residents are still pushing for the debris to be cleaned up.—
Verb
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The system adapts to tone and intent without forcing app switching or blank-page starts.—
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She and other members of both houses and both parties were evacuated for their safety for several hours as rioters forced their way into the Capitol that day.—
Verb
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During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.—
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In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.—
Verb
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Enrollment Though still growing overall, state economists reported in early January that K-12 enrollment numbers were nearly 42,500 lower than predicted, with signs of continuing downward trends moving forward.—
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Researchers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Thomas Anthopoulos, have successfully stabilized perovskite solar cells, which could help move the low-cost technology into the global mass market.—
Verb
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The slim design makes this perfect for travelling, with easy stowing in suitcases or backpacks.—
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Despite the losses, Damon traveled to Texas and won the national title, dedicating the victory to his family and supporters.—
Noun
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If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road.—
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The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
Cite this Entry
“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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