# drive out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drive-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to force someone or something to leave a place. You use this when a person, group, or even a feeling is pushed away so they cannot stay.

For teachers: To force a person, animal, or group to depart from a location or position of power. Transitive; often implies the use of pressure, competition, or physical force.

## Examples

- The loud noise will drive out the birds from the garden.
- New businesses in the neighborhood are starting to drive out the smaller, older shops by offering lower prices.
- The revolutionary forces successfully managed to drive out the occupying army after months of intense urban warfare.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The company drove out them." but "The company drove them out." — If the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- The object can be placed between 'drive' and 'out', especially when it is a short pronoun.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'expel' or 'evict'; 'drive out' is often used in economic contexts to describe competition forcing others to leave the market.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.