DRIVE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for DRIVE?

Need another word that means the same as “drive”? Find 118 synonyms and 30 related words for “drive” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Drive” are: force, ram, ride, aim, get, beat back, force back, push back, repel, repulse, labor, labour, push, tug, motor, take, operate, pilot, steer, handle, manage, travel by car, go by car, maintain, keep, own, possess, have, chauffeur, run, give someone a lift, bring, ferry, transport, convey, carry, power, propel, move, hammer, screw, bang, pound, sink, plunge, thrust, stab, knock, send, drill, pierce, perforate, puncture, punch, cut, impel, urge, press, get going, compel, constrain, prompt, precipitate, catapult, work, exert, tax, driving, driving force, driveway, private road, campaign, cause, crusade, effort, movement, parkway, excursion, outing, trip, jaunt, tour, turn, road, thoroughfare, way, approach, access road, appetite, desire, need, motivation, ambition, single-mindedness, will power, dedication, doggedness, tenacity, enterprise, initiative, enthusiasm, zeal, commitment, aggression, aggressiveness, forcefulness, spirit, surge, appeal, tournament, competition, contest, event, match

Drive as a Noun

Definitions of "Drive" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “drive” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• An act of driving a group of animals to a particular destination.
• An innate, biologically determined urge to attain a goal or satisfy a need.
• (in a car with automatic transmission) the position of the gear selector in which the car will move forward, changing gears automatically as required.
• A physiological state corresponding to a strong need or desire.
• A short road leading from a public road to a house or other building.
• The act of applying force to propel something.
• A street or road.
• A mechanism by which force or power is transmitted in a machine.
• The transmission of power to machinery or to the wheels of a motor vehicle.
• A trip or journey in a car.
• (computer science) a device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium.
• A road leading up to a private house.
• A wide scenic road planted with trees.
• Hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver.
• The trait of being highly motivated.
• (in ball games) a forceful stroke made with a free swing of the bat, racket, or foot against the ball.
• (sports) a hard straight return (as in tennis or squash.
• A shot from the tee.
• An organized gathering to play whist or another game, involving many players.
• The act of driving a herd of animals overland.
• A journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile.
• An organized effort by a number of people to achieve a purpose.
• Determination and ambition to achieve something.
• A device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium.
• A series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end.
• A hard straight return (as in tennis or squash.

Synonyms of "Drive" as a noun (51 Words)

access road	A way of entering or leaving.
aggression	A feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack. Territorial aggression between individuals of the same species.
aggressiveness	A feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack. Recent research has linked violent video games to increased aggressiveness in youths.
ambition	Desire and determination to achieve success. He achieved his ambition of making a fortune.
appeal	A request for donations to support a charity or cause. The right of appeal.
appetite	A feeling of craving something. Her appetite for life.
approach	A close approximation. The landowner made an approach to the developer.
campaign	A series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end. An election campaign.
cause	A principle, aim, or movement to which one is committed and which one is prepared to defend or advocate. Forty five causes were entered in the list for the March session.
commitment	A message that makes a pledge. With so many business commitments time for recreation was limited.
competition	An occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants. Business competition can be fiendish at times.
contest	An occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants. A leadership contest.
crusade	Each of a series of medieval military expeditions made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. The Albigensian crusades.
dedication	The act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action. The hardback edition contained a fulsome dedication to his wife.
desire	Something that is desired. They were clinging together in fierce desire.
doggedness	Persistent determination.
driveway	A short road leading from a public road to a house or other building. They parked in the driveway.
driving	Hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver. He was convicted of reckless driving.
driving force	Hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver.
effort	A notable achievement. The war effort.
enterprise	Initiative and resourcefulness. A state owned enterprise.
enthusiasm	Something that arouses enthusiasm. Enthusiasm for his program is growing.
event	A special set of circumstances. Staff have been holding a number of events to raise money for charity.
excursion	A digression. A gantry controlled the radial and tangential excursion of each detector.
forcefulness	Physical energy or intensity. A government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man.
initiative	The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. Anti hunting groups have seized the initiative in the dispute.
jaunt	A journey taken for pleasure. Her regular jaunts to Europe.
match	The score needed to win a match. Stones of a perfect match and colour.
motivation	A set of facts and arguments used in support of a proposal. Keep staff up to date and maintain interest and motivation.
movement	A campaign undertaken by a political social or artistic movement. The second movement is slow and melodic.
need	A state of extreme poverty or destitution. God has no need of men to accomplish His work.
outing	A day devoted to an outdoor social gathering. A family outing to Weston super Mare.
parkway	An open landscaped highway. Didcot Parkway.
private road	An enlisted man of the lowest rank in the Army or Marines.
push	The force used in pushing. He gave the door a hard push.
ride	A mechanical device that you ride for amusement or excitement. Their ride into town had dropped them off near the bridge.
road	A railroad. He s well on the road to recovery.
single-mindedness	Characterized by one unified purpose.
spirit	The quality of courage, energy, and determination. The rule had been broken in spirit if not in letter.
surge	A sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide. Flooding caused by tidal surges.
tenacity	The quality or fact of being very determined; determination. The tenacity of certain myths within the historical record.
thoroughfare	A road or path forming a route between two places. A scheme to stop the park being used as a thoroughfare.
tour	A period of time spent in military service. A tour of the White House.
tournament	(in the Middle Ages) a sporting event in which two knights (or two groups of knights) jousted on horseback with blunted weapons, each trying to knock the other off, the winner receiving a prize. The Royal Tournament.
trip	The distance from start to finish of a race. Sammy s gone on a school trip.
turn	A place where a road meets or branches off another a turning. He took a turn to the right.
urge	An instinctive motive. He felt the urge to giggle.
way	A general category of things used in the expression in the way of. It s a long way to Moscow.
will power	A legal document declaring a person’s wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die.
zeal	Prompt willingness. His zeal for privatization.

Usage Examples of "Drive" as a noun

• Greg hit a good drive at the 18th.
• Cattle were no longer taken on long drives, but were delivered by rail.
• A variable speed drive permitted operation through a range of speeds.
• The team was ready for a drive toward the pennant.
• They parked in the driveway.
• He threw the car into drive.
• Insert the disk into drive A.
• He experimented with chain drive to run the propeller.
• He took the family for a drive in his new car.
• A hard drive to left field.
• A whist drive.
• Emotional and sexual drives.
• A recruitment drive by the police.
• From the window he could see right down the weedy drive to the front gate.
• After reaching the desired velocity the drive is cut off.
• His drive and energy exhausted his co-workers.
• His drive helped Leeds to four Cup finals.
• Hammond Drive.
• They went for a drive in the country.
• The riverside drive offers many exciting scenic views.
• He sliced his drive out of bounds.

Drive as a Verb

Definitions of "Drive" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “drive” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Force (someone) to work to an excessive extent.
• Operate or control a vehicle.
• (hunting) search for game.
• Have certain properties when driven.
• Force (a stake or nail) into place by hitting or pushing it.
• Cause to move back by force or influence.
• To compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly.
• Urge or force (animals or people) to move in a specified direction.
• (of a motor vehicle) travel under the control of a driver.
• (of a source of power) provide the energy to set and keep (an engine or piece of machinery) in motion.
• Strike with a driver, as in teeing off.
• Move by being propelled by a force.
• Work as a driver.
• Compel somebody to do something, often against his own will or judgment.
• (hunting) chase from cover into more open ground.
• Hunting: chase from cover into more open ground.
• Bore (a tunnel.
• (in ball games) hit or kick (the ball) hard with a free swing of the bat, racket, or foot.
• Cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force.
• Cause someone or something to move by driving.
• Proceed along in a vehicle.
• Convey (someone) in a vehicle, especially a private car.
• (of a fact or feeling) compel (someone) to act in a particular way, especially one that is considered undesirable or inappropriate.
• Hunting: search for game.
• Bring (someone) forcibly into a specified negative state.
• Urge forward.
• Own or use (a specified type of car.
• Be licensed or competent to drive a motor vehicle.
• (of a device) power or operate (another device.
• Hit very hard, as by swinging a bat horizontally.
• (of wind, rain, or snow) move or fall with great force.
• Cause to function by supplying the force or power for or by controlling.
• Travel or be transported in a vehicle.
• Move into a desired direction of discourse.
• Force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically.
• Strike (a ball) from the tee, typically with a driver.
• Operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.
• Compel to leave.
• Propel or carry along by force in a specified direction.
• Excavate horizontally.
• Push, propel, or press with force.
• Cause (something abstract) to happen or develop.
• Strive and make an effort to reach a goal.

Synonyms of "Drive" as a verb (67 Words)

aim	Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal. She wanted to aim a pun.
bang	Leap jerk bang. I banged my head on the low beams.
beat back	Strike (a part of one’s own body) repeatedly, as in great emotion or in accompaniment to music.
bring	Go or come after and bring or take back. Bring comments.
carry	Have on the surface or on the skin. This boat can only carry a small sail.
catapult	Move suddenly or at great speed as though hurled by a catapult. The horse catapulted away from the fence.
chauffeur	Drive (a car or a passenger in a car), typically as part of one’s job. She insisted on being chauffeured around.
compel	Necessitate or exact. We compel all students to fill out this form.
constrain	To close within bounds, or otherwise limit or deprive of free movement. Duty constrains one to act often contrary to one s desires or inclinations.
convey	Transmit a title or property. She conveyed the message to me.
cut	Cut and assemble the components of. He cut his toe on a sharp stone.
drill	Produce a hole in something by or as if by boring with a drill. A power tool for drilling wood.
exert	Make a physical or mental effort. Exert oneself.
ferry	Travel by ferry. Ambulances ferried the injured to hospital.
force	Take by force. Thieves tried to force open the cash register.
force back	To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means.
get	Take vengeance on or get even. Get nauseous.
get going	Earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher.
give someone a lift	Break down, literally or metaphorically.
go by car	Progress by being changed.
hammer	Hit or beat something repeatedly with a hammer or similar object. He got hammered for an honest mistake.
handle	Handle effectively. He was going too fast and couldn t handle the car.
have	Have or possess either in a concrete or an abstract sense. If you think that place is great you have to try our summer house.
impel	Cause to move forward with force. Financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures.
keep	Keep under control keep in check. She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips.
knock	Knock against with force or violence. He knocked into an elderly man with a walking stick.
labor	Work hard.
labour	Of a woman in childbirth be in labour. United laboured against confident opponents.
maintain	Maintain for use and service. The king swears he will maintain the laws of God.
manage	Be the manager of a sports team or a performer. The young violinist didn t manage her bow very well.
motor	Travel in a motor vehicle. He had motored along to second base on a passed ball.
move	Have a turn make one s move in a game. The chairman of the company told the salesmen to move the computers.
operate	(of an organization) be managed in a specified way or from a specified place. There is a powerful law which operates in politics.
own	Have something as one s own possess. His father owns a restaurant.
perforate	Make a hole into or between, as for ease of separation. Perforate the sheets of paper.
pierce	Force a way through; penetrate. The scream pierced the night.
pilot	Be the pilot of an aircraft or ship. One day workshops for part time staff were piloted in June.
plunge	Devote (oneself) fully to. She plunged into a dangerous adventure.
possess	Have ownership or possession of. A terrible rage possessed her.
pound	Place or shut up in a pound. Pound the cows so they don t stray.
power	Supply the force or power for the functioning of. Nicholas powered a header into the net.
precipitate	Fall from clouds. Cell proteins were then precipitated and washed in 10 trichloroacetic acid.
press	Squeeze or press together. This is a pressing problem.
prompt	Serve as the inciting cause of. She prompted me to call my relatives.
propel	Spur or drive into a particular situation. A rocket propelled grenade launcher.
punch	Drive forcibly as if by a punch. He punched me in the stomach.
puncture	Make a puncture in something. Puncture a tire.
push	Make strenuous pushing movements during birth to expel the baby. He will be pushed to retain the title as his form this season has been below par.
push back	Strive and make an effort to reach a goal.
ram	Be very crowded. The stolen car rammed into the front of the house.
repel	Be repellent to cause aversion in. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
repulse	Cause to feel intense distaste and aversion. Rioters tried to storm the Ministry but were repulsed by police.
ride	Ride over along or through. This car rides smoothly.
run	Of a batsman run from one wicket to the other in scoring or attempting to score a run. The boats were preparing to run the big rapids.
send	Send a message or letter. Send your document as a PDF attachment.
sink	Cause to sink. You can relax on the veranda as the sun sinks low.
stab	Stab or pierce. She stabbed at the earth with the fork.
steer	Guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder. The ship steered into port.
take	Take by force. He leaned forward to take her hand.
tax	Pay tax on something especially a vehicle. They taxed him failure to appear in court.
transport	Transport commercially. She was transported with pleasure.
travel by car	Undertake a journey or trip.
tug	Tow a ship by means of a tugboat. Each oar was tugged by several men.
urge	Spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts. He urged her to come and stay with us.
work	Be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result do work. His fingers worked with tension.

Usage Examples of "Drive" as a verb

• He got into his car and drove off.
• Drive the ball far out into the field.
• Turbines driven by steam.
• From the free kick Owen drove the ball past the keeper.
• Drive a ball.
• A car drives up, and a man gets out.
• She is driven by her passion.
• You're driving yourself too hard.
• The snow drove against him.
• We need to allow market forces to drive growth in the telecommunications sector.
• My new truck drives well.
• He wanted to drive me away.
• They drove a flock of sheep through the centre of the city.
• Troops drove out the demonstrators.
• Nails are driven through the boards.
• Drive a golf ball.
• I take it you can drive?
• She drove aimlessly for hours.
• Can you drive this four-wheel truck?
• She drives for the taxi company in Newark.
• We drive the turnpike to work.
• This device drives the disks for the computer.
• The consumer has been driving the economy for a number of years.
• The amplifier drives the tube.
• Drive a tunnel.
• Some people are driven to murder their tormentors.
• Drive the forest.
• He drives me mad.
• Drive the cows into the barn.
• Drive a car or bus.
• A stream of black cars drove by.
• They drove back into town.
• The thought drove him to despair.
• I'm driving the ball really well and my irons are good.
• He drives a bread truck.
• He was driven by ambition.
• An engineer suggested driving a tunnel through the Judean hills.
• The wind will drive you onshore.
• The French infantry were driven back.
• My laziness drives my wife crazy.
• The interface can be used to drive a printer.
• Sue drives an estate car.
• His wife drove him to Regent's Park.
• Drive the game.
• Steam drives the engines.

Associations of "Drive" (30 Words)

automobile	Travel in an automobile.
axle	A shaft on which a wheel rotates. North American railways operate cars at much higher axle loads.
bicycle	Ride a bicycle. They spent the holidays bicycling around the beautiful Devonshire countryside.
bike	A motor vehicle with two wheels and a strong frame. Danny bikes to the park and back every day.
bus	Ride in a bus. The fenders had fallen off that old bus.
cog	Each of the projections on a cog. He was a small cog in a large machine.
cycle	The period of time taken to complete a cycle of events. Economies cycle regularly between boom and slump.
cycling	The sport or activity of riding a bicycle. Cycle racing has three main forms: road racing (typically over long distances), pursuit (on an oval track), and cyclo-cross (over rough, open country).
cyclist	A person who rides a bicycle.
driver	A golfer who hits the golf ball with a driver. Mule drivers.
driving	Having the power of driving or impelling. Responsibility turned the spoiled playboy into a driving young executive.
freewheel	Coast in a vehicle using the freewheel. The postman came freewheeling down the track.
incite	Give an incentive for action. They conspired to incite riots.
jalopy	An old car in a dilapidated condition. His father got worried about him driving that old jalopy it wasn t safe.
limousine	Large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur. The Prince was whisked away in a black limousine.
motorcycle	Ride a motorcycle.
motorist	The driver of a car.
mounted	Decorated with applied ornamentation; often used in combination- F.V.W.Mason. Mounted police controlled the crowd.
pedal	Move a bicycle by working its pedals. A brake pedal.
pulley	Hoist with a pulley. The tree house was built on the ground and pulleyed into the branches.
ride	Ride over along or through. Don t ride me so hard over my failure.
riding	The sport or activity of riding horses. A riding accident.
scooter	A motorboat resembling a motor scooter. A snow scooter.
spoke	Each of a set of radial handles projecting from a ship’s wheel.
streetcar	A wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity.
surrey	A light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage; has two or four seats.
taxi	Take a taxi as a means of transport. The plane taxied to a halt at the terminal.
tram	Travel by tram. A tramcar carries coal out of a coal mine.
vehicle	A thing used to express, embody, or fulfil something. The vehicle was sent skidding across the road.
wheel	The steering wheel of a vehicle or vessel. The final release from the wheel of life.