# driven

/ˈdɹɪvən/ (US) · /dɹˈɪvən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/driven
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. highly motivated

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- He is a very driven person who stays at the office until late every night.
- The CEO is a remarkably driven individual whose relentless pursuit of market dominance has transformed the company's fortunes.

Teaching tip: This sense is often used to describe professionals or athletes who have an intense focus on their careers.

### 3. piled up by wind

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

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

- The house was surrounded by deep, wind-driven snow.
- The landscape was a desolate expanse of driven snow, with the original contours of the road completely obscured by the winter storm.

## Examples

- She is a very driven person who works late every night.
- The company is looking for a driven sales manager who can meet ambitious targets in a competitive market.
- His success is not merely a product of talent but of a driven nature that refuses to accept anything less than perfection in his creative output.

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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.