# drivers

/ˈdɹaɪvɝz/ (US) · /dɹˈaɪvəz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. people who drive

noun · CEFR A2

people who operate a car, bus, truck, or other vehicle.

For teachers: individuals who operate motor vehicles.

- The police warned drivers to be careful on the icy roads this morning.
- Delivery drivers often face significant pressure to meet strict deadlines while navigating heavy urban traffic throughout their shifts.

### 2. causes or influences

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the main things that make something happen or change.

For teachers: the primary factors or forces that provide impulse or motivation for a process or trend.

- Lower costs and better technology are the main drivers of the new project.
- Economists identified rising consumer demand and low interest rates as the primary drivers of the recent market expansion.

### 3. computer software

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

special programs that tell your computer how to use hardware like a printer.

For teachers: software components that act as translators between an operating system and a specific hardware device.

- I need to download the latest drivers for my new printer to work.
- The system crash was eventually traced to outdated graphics drivers that were incompatible with the latest operating system update.

Usage: usually plural when referring to a set of installation files

## Examples

- Lower costs are the main drivers of our recent growth.
- Analysts identified rising interest rates and low consumer confidence as the primary drivers of the market downturn.
- The report examines the demographic and technological drivers that are expected to reshape the global labor market over the next two decades, emphasizing automation and aging populations.

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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.