- 1[intransitive, transitive] to operate a vehicle so that it goes in a particular direction Can you drive? Don't drive so fast! I drove to work this morning. Should we drive (= go there by car) or go by train? drive something He drives a taxi (= that is his job). Topic CollocationsDrivinghaving a car
- have/own a car
- ride a motorcycle/moped/scooter
- drive/use/prefer an automatic/a manual/a stick shift
- have/get your car fixed/repaired/looked at
- buy/sell a used car
- take/pass/fail a driver's test/road test/knowledge test
- get/obtain/have/lose/carry a/your driver's license/learner's permit
- put on/fasten/buckle/wear/undo your seat belt
- put/turn/leave the key in the ignition
- start the car/engine
- change/shift gears
- shift/put the car into gear/neutral/drive/park
- press/put your foot on the brake pedal/clutch/accelerator
- release the clutch/the emergency brake/the parking brake
- drive/park/reverse the car
- signal that you are turning left/right
- take/miss the turn
- apply/hit/slam on the brake(s)
- beep/honk your horn
- a car skids/crashes (into something)/collides (with something)
- swerve to avoid an oncoming car/a pedestrian
- crash/lose control of the car
- have/be in/be killed in/survive a (car) crash/a (car) wreck/an accident/a hit-and-run
- be run over/hit by a car/bus/truck
- dent/hit the hood/trunk/door/side panel/bumper/fender
- break/crack/shatter the windshield
- blow/puncture a tire
- get/have a flat tire
- inflate/change/replace/check a tire
- be caught in/get stuck in/sit in a traffic jam
- cause congestion/traffic jams/gridlock/backups
- experience/face lengthy delays
- beat/avoid the traffic/the rush hour
- exceed/observe/drive the speed limit
- be caught by a speed camera
- stop somebody for/pull somebody over for speeding
- (informal) run a red light/the lights
- be arrested for/charged with drunk driving/driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)
- be banned from driving
- have your license suspended/taken away/ (informal) pulled
- 2[transitive] drive somebody (+ adv./prep.) to take someone somewhere in a car, taxi, etc. Could you drive me home? Thesaurustake
- lead
- escort
- drive
- show
- walk
- guide
- usher
- direct
- take to go with someone from one place to another, for example in order to show them something or to show them the way to a place:I'll take you to the party tomorrow.
- lead to go with or go in front of someone in order to show them the way or to make them go in the right direction:Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
- escort to go with someone in order to protect or guard them or to show them the way:The president was escorted by twelve bodyguards.
- drive to take someone somewhere in a car, taxi, etc:My mother drove us to the airport.
- show to take someone to a particular place, in the right direction, or along the correct route:The attendant showed us to our seats.
- walk to go somewhere with someone on foot, especially in order to make sure that they get there safely; to take an animal, especially a dog, for a walk or make an animal walk somewhere:He always walked her home. Have you walked the dog yet today?
- guide to show someone the way to a place, often by going with them; to show someone a place that you know well:She guided us through the busy streets. We were guided around the museums.
- usher (somewhat formal) to politely take or show someone where you want them to be, especially within a building:She ushered her guests to their seats.
- direct (somewhat formal) to tell or show someone how to get somewhere or where to go:A young woman directed them to the station.
- to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide/usher/direct somebody to/out of/into something
- to take/lead/escort/drive/show/walk/guide/usher somebody around
- to take/lead/escort/drive/walk somebody home
- to take/lead/escort/guide/usher somebody to safety
- to lead/show the way
- 3[transitive] drive something to own or use a particular type of vehicle What car do you drive? machine
- 4[transitive, usually passive] drive something to provide the power that makes a machine work a steam-driven locomotive make someone do something
- 5[transitive] drive somebody/yourself (+ adv./prep.) to force someone/yourself to act in a particular way The urge to survive drove them on. You're driving yourself too hard.
- 6[transitive] to make someone very angry, crazy, etc. or to make them do something extreme drive somebody + adj. to drive someone crazy/mad/insane drive somebody to do something Hunger drove her to steal. drive somebody to something Those kids are driving me to despair. (humorous) It's enough to drive you to drink (= to make you start drinking too much alcohol). make someone or something move
- 7[transitive] drive somebody/something + adv./prep. to force someone or something to move in a particular direction to drive sheep into a field The enemy was driven back.
- 8[transitive] drive something to influence something or cause it to make progress This is the main factor driving investment in the area. hit/push
- 9[transitive] drive something + adv./prep. to force something to go in a particular direction or into a particular position by pushing it, hitting it, etc. to drive a nail into a piece of wood make a hole
- 10[transitive] drive something + adv./prep. to make an opening in or through something by using force They drove a tunnel through the solid rock. in sports
- 11[transitive, intransitive] drive (something) (+ adv./prep.) to hit a ball with force, sending it forward to drive the ball into the rough (= in golf) wind/water
- 12[transitive] drive something (+ adv./prep.) to carry something along Huge waves drove the yacht onto the rocks.
- 13[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to fall or move rapidly and with great force The waves drove against the shore. Idioms
verb jump to other results
NAmE//draɪv//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they drive he / she / it drives
past simple drove
past participle driven
-ing form driving
extremely clean, pure, etc.
to argue in an aggressive way and force someone to agree on the best possible price or arrangement
to make someone understand or accept something by saying it often, loudly, angrily, etc. You will really need to drive your point home.
to work so hard that you become extremely tired
the thing someone is trying to say I wish I knew what they were driving at. Phrasal Verbsdrive awaydrive offdrive ondrive outdrive up
Check pronunciation: drive