Word
driven
Phoneticsdriv·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɹɪvən/
UK/dɹˈɪvən/
Definitions
01past participle of drive
A2 · Elementary
v. the form of 'drive' used with 'have' or 'be'.
v. the past participle of 'drive', used in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
“I have driven this car for ten years without any major problems.”
“Having driven across the continent several times, the courier was intimately familiar with the most efficient routes through the mountain passes.”
Pitfall
I have drove that car before.
I have driven that car before.
Use 'driven' (past participle) after 'have', not 'drove' (past simple).
02highly motivated
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. working very hard to reach a goal because you want to succeed.
adj. characterized by a strong internal motivation to achieve goals or success.
“She is a very driven person who spends all her weekends studying.”
“The CEO's driven personality was both an inspiration to the staff and a source of significant workplace stress.”
Synonyms
03powered or controlled by
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. moved or powered by a specific thing, like an engine or a need.
adj. propelled, powered, or controlled by a specific force or factor; often used in compounds.
“The company is driven by a need to protect the environment.”
“The new model features a battery-driven motor that significantly reduces the vehicle's overall carbon footprint.”
04piled by wind
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. pushed into piles by the wind, usually describing snow.
adj. piled into drifts or blown along by the force of the wind.
“The driven snow blocked the front door of the cabin.”
“The hikers struggled through the deep, wind-driven snow that had accumulated in the narrow mountain pass.”
Usage
Almost exclusively used to describe snow or rain.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The bumper crop of results means nearly 263,000 UK pupils have already been accepted on to university courses starting this autumn, driven in part by the rising number of 18-year-olds in the population.” “That volume tracked with experience : The longer someone had driven, the larger that part of the brain.” “It’s easily the most powerful street car I’ve tested; the only vehicle I’ve driven with more power was a purebred race car with a third the mass, and it was on a proper track.” “The research also points to broader economic changes driven by AI.” Etymology
Morphologically drive + -n.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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