drive 1 of 2

1
as in to run
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys drove the herd of cattle from San Antonio to San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to motor
to travel by a motorized vehicle I'm going to drive across the country—want to come?

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one drove the plunger into the opening

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
5
6
7

drive

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in campaign
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal a fund-raising drive for the school's marching band

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb drive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of drive are actuate, impel, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When might actuate be a better fit than drive?

The words actuate and drive can be used in similar contexts, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When would impel be a good substitute for drive?

While the synonyms impel and drive are close in meaning, impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When could move be used to replace drive?

In some situations, the words move and drive are roughly equivalent. However, move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drive
Verb
Walt bought the five ton stump while driving through Pike’s Petrified Forest in Colorado two days before their wedding anniversary in 1956. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 13 July 2025 The incident, which occurred in June, is part of a growing trend of scams -- some of them driven by artificial intelligence -- targeting government officials and their staff through impersonation schemes. arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
Details sent to the company included the health and read / write values of the drive using CrystalDiskInfo, which is a program that can read the SMART data embedded in most hard disks. Umar Shakir, The Verge, 7 Feb. 2023 As part of the drive for efficiency, NHS managers were pressured to keep bed vacancies low. David Luhnow, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for drive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drive
Verb
  • Trump has set a July 9 deadline for imposing reciprocal tariffs, but trade talks have run into obstacles including discussions over duties on farm goods, steel and car parts.
    Jennifer Cunningham, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • His installation is called The Jewel of Mayfair, and features a carpet that runs the length of the arcade, nearly 560 feet, featuring stones and designs from each chapter of his 50-year career.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • But momentum flipped in the fifth when North Reading turned an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play and tacked on an insurance run when Matt Mancinelli motored around from first to score on a bloop single by Torra.
    Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 14 June 2025
  • TikTok clued us into the power of shaving your body—mainly your she-shrubbery—using what is technically a beard trimmer, because it's designed explicitly to motor through coarse hair.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, just five airports account for over 85% of TFS’s revenue from these two sectors, pushing up the risk factor.
    Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Frankie Grande was forced to compete alone in a two person Battle of the Block Competition when his teammate Caleb abandoned him and sat out.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 July 2025
  • Initially, the plant’s staff was overwhelmed, forcing Motorola to briefly backtrack on its promise to deliver phones to customers within four days.
    Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • The couple successfully activate the code and crawl through a tunnel to freedom, only to discover that the entire city has been sealed inside the same black brick structures.
    Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 11 July 2025
  • The Network then will activate its many participants to collaborate and engage together to advance solutions and designs of new processes, or mechanisms, or even technologies that are needed to not only benefit each individual employer organization but also the overall talent ecosystem.
    Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • As reported by The Athletic, an agreement for the 20-year-old Japan international was reached for £5million ($6.8m, 1billion Japanese yen), which represents a record fee for a player in the J League — the top division of Japanese football — moving overseas.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 July 2025
  • Crisis response is best handled when teams move together.
    Matthew Polega, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Verb
  • His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.
    Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
  • Fine dining and traveling aboard a boat may seem like an unlikely pairing.
    Caitlin Palumbo, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • According to the stewards, Bearman slowed down before accelerating into the pit entry road at 260 kmph.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said most remaining rescues are being attempted at camp sites, but they are isolated because of road damage.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 5 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drive. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on drive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!