1
a
: having a compulsive or urgent quality
a driven sense of obligation
b
: determined to succeed : highly energetic and motivated
… a versatile yacht captained by a driven skipper who has won everything in the sport …—
Herb McCormick
Herb McCormickKinsey redoubled his efforts. If he had been driven before, now there was a manic quality to his work.—David Halberstam
David Halberstam2
: propelled or motivated by something
—used in combination
results-driven
a character-driven drama
drivenness
noun
He was born two months premature and she has never stopped asking herself whether it was her drivenness, her refusal to rest, that caused it.
—Michele Magwood
Michele Magwood
Synonyms
Examples of driven in a Sentence
They are driven, successful people.
a man with a driven need to be loved or liked by everyone
Recent Examples on the Web
He got married to a smart, driven, friendly partner.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
But that sense of defiance goes hand-in-hand with a sense of neediness in Warren’s driven world.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025
Her sister, who is less driven, more gregarious, and easy to love, is Rose.
—Louise Glück, The New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2025
This cohort of workers may be the most diverse, driven, emotionally aware and empathetic.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for driven 
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R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
But that sense of defiance goes hand-in-hand with a sense of neediness in Warren’s driven world.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025
Her sister, who is less driven, more gregarious, and easy to love, is Rose.
—Louise Glück, The New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2025
This cohort of workers may be the most diverse, driven, emotionally aware and empathetic.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for driven
Dictionary Entries Near driven
Cite this Entry
“Driven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/driven. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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