drive 1 of 2

Definition of drivenext
1
as in to run
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to motor
to travel by a motorized vehicle I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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drive

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in campaign
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb drive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of drive are actuate, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When might actuate be a better fit than drive?

The words actuate and drive can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When would impel be a good substitute for drive?

While the synonyms impel and drive are close in meaning, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When could move be used to replace drive?

In some situations, the words move and drive are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drive
Verb
Go wine tasting right in town, or do your research and drive the Nevada County foothill roads to a few local wineries with pretty tasting rooms. Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026 If modern vehicles are so reliant on software for everything from displaying driving speeds to braking in some models, free OTA software updates could save drivers the hassle of bringing their cars into an authorized dealer for repairs. Charles Singh, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
The United States’ 250th birthday carries ambitions to galvanize Americans behind nationwide community-service drives and patriotic brand launches. James Pollard, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Location The Hedges Inn is on James Lane in the village of East Hampton and is a five-minute drive from the Long Island Rail Road Station. Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for drive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
  • Villaraigosa, who led the city from 2005-13 and recently ran for governor, argued that this is not the right time to make even that change.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Between there, and running upstairs to supervise fittings of his monumentally sculptural work with his stylist Tallulah Harlech, the designer caught a rare moment to sit and talk.
    Sarah Mower, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Eventually, Flores and Álvarez motored to the rendezvous point, where there was no sign of the Fiorella, or of the other skiff.
    Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • Mora picked the ball up on halfway and just kept on motoring forward, moving towards two runners on the right, eventually nudging the ball through for Jorge Sanchez, who bundled the ball across for Quinones to finish.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Handing the survivor her jewelry and hearing her story a few days later gave Dondi and her team of volunteers a reassuring nudge to push forward with their work.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Normally, the onshore flow — a west-to-southwest wind that creates the ocean breeze and pushes air away from the coasts — would push the particulate matter with it.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Extreme heat has forced several communities in the Washington area to cancel or scale back their Independence Day celebrations.
    Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • The Kings forced 20 turnovers, leading to a 22-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
  • Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
    Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • If anyone shows signs of heat illness, promptly move them to a cool, shaded area.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • More than 40 tall ships from 20 foreign countries participated, traveling through New York Harbor from near Sandy Hook, New Jersey, up to the George Washington Bridge.
    Nicole Jao, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Several Iraqi provinces announced official holidays to allow mourners to travel.
    Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Go wine tasting right in town, or do your research and drive the Nevada County foothill roads to a few local wineries with pretty tasting rooms.
    Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
  • Entire buildings and roads were submerged in Accra on Monday, cutting off access to several areas of the Ghanian capital and in the neighboring city of Tema.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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