ENGLISH
REFERENCE

drive

v. · n.
US //ˈdɹaɪv// UK //dɹˈaɪv// drive
Irregular verb past drove past participle driven
  1. 1 to operate a vehicle (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to control and move a car, bus, or truck.

    to operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

    Example

    She learned to drive a car when she was seventeen years old.

    Example

    He drives a heavy goods vehicle across the continent, often spending several consecutive days on the road.
    Pitfall
    I am learning to drive a bicycle.
    I am learning to ride a bicycle.

    Use 'drive' for cars, buses, and trains, but use 'ride' for bicycles, motorcycles, and animals.

  2. 2 to force or push (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to force someone or something to move in a certain direction.

    to compel or urge something to move forward through physical force or social pressure.

    Example

    The strong winds drive the waves against the shore.

    Example

    The shepherd used a trained dog to drive the flock toward the lower pastures before the storm arrived.
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  1. 3 to make someone crazy or upset (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to cause someone to be in a specific state, usually an annoyed or crazy one.

    to force someone into a particular state of mind or emotion, typically a negative one.

    Example

    That loud clicking noise is going to drive me crazy.

    Example

    The constant interruptions from his colleagues began to drive him to the point of total frustration.
  2. 4 a trip in a car (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a journey you take by car.

    an excursion or journey made in a motor vehicle.

    Example

    We went for a long drive in the countryside last Sunday.

    Example

    The scenic drive along the coast took much longer than anticipated due to the winding roads and frequent photo stops.
  3. 5 ambition and energy (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Psychology

    the energy and determination to achieve something.

    an internal motivation or psychological urge to attain a goal.

    Example

    She has the drive and talent to become a successful CEO.

    Example

    The recruiters were looking for candidates who possessed both technical expertise and the personal drive to innovate under pressure.
  4. 6 a private road (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a short private road that leads from a street to a house.

    a private road or path providing access from a public thoroughfare to a residence or building.

    Example

    You can park your car on the drive in front of the garage.

    Example

    The gravel drive was lined with ancient oak trees that cast long shadows across the lawn in the evening.
  5. 7 an organized effort (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a planned effort by a group of people to achieve a goal, like collecting money.

    an organized campaign or effort to achieve a specific objective, often charitable or commercial.

    Example

    The school is starting a food drive to help families in need.

    Example

    The annual blood drive exceeded its targets thanks to a coordinated social media campaign and local volunteer support.
  6. 8 computing storage (n.)
    A2 Elementary Computing

    a piece of equipment in a computer that reads or stores information.

    a device used for the storage and retrieval of digital data.

    Example

    I saved all my photos onto an external hard drive.

    Example

    The server's primary drive failed, but fortunately, the redundant backup system prevented any significant data loss.
  7. 9 sports hit (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a hard, fast hit of a ball in sports like golf, tennis, or baseball.

    a powerful stroke or hit that sends a ball on a straight or flat trajectory.

    Example

    His first drive went straight down the middle of the fairway.

    Example

    The batsman played a magnificent cover drive, sending the ball racing toward the boundary for four runs.
Origin

From Middle English driven, from Old English drīfan (“to drive, force, move”), from Proto-West Germanic drīban, from Proto-Germanic drībaną (“to drive”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰreybʰ- (“to drive, push”). Cognates Cognate with Scots drive (“to drive”), Yola dhreeve, dhrive, dreeve, drieve, drive (“to drive”), North Frisian driiv, driiw, driwe (“to drive”), West Frisian driuwe (“to drive; to float”), Alemannic German triibe (“to drive”), Dutch drijven (“to drive, push”), German treiben (“to drive, push, propel”), Low German drieven (“to drive, drift, push”), Luxembourgish dreiwen (“to drive, propel”), Yiddish טרײַבן (traybn, “to drive”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål drive (“to drive, propel”), Icelandic drífa (“to drive”), Norwegian Nynorsk driva, drive (“to drive, move; to propel; to run”), Swedish driva (“to drive, compel; to drift; to run”), Gothic 𐌳𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (dreiban, “to drive”).

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