What does "driven" mean?

1. (highly motivated) working very hard to reach a goal because you are determined to succeed. 2. (piled up by wind) pushed into piles or heaps by the wind, usually describing snow.

driven

adj.

US //ˈdɹɪvən// UK //dɹˈɪvən// driv·en

1 highly motivated (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

working very hard to reach a goal because you are determined to succeed.

characterised by a strong, obsessive, or passionate motivation to achieve specific objectives.

Example

He is a very driven person who stays at the office until late every night.

Example

The CEO is a remarkably driven individual whose relentless pursuit of market dominance has transformed the company's fortunes.

Teacher's tip

This sense is often used to describe professionals or athletes who have an intense focus on their careers.
- lazy
- apathetic
2 piled up by wind (adj.)
C1 Advanced Literary

pushed into piles or heaps by the wind, usually describing snow.

piled into drifts or heaps by the force of the wind; typically used in the phrase 'driven snow'.

Example

The house was surrounded by deep, wind-driven snow.

Example

The landscape was a desolate expanse of driven snow, with the original contours of the road completely obscured by the winter storm.
- drifted
- piled

Origin

Morphologically drive + -n.