drives
drives — verb
- drivespresent simple I / you / we / they
- driveses3rd person singular
- drivesing-ing form
- drivesedpast simple
1. To control a car, bus, or other road vehicle so that it moves where you want it
To control a car, bus, or other road vehicle so that it moves where you want it to go.
Felix drives his truck to the warehouse every morning before sunrise.
drive + [vehicle] + to + [place]
Roya is learning to drive with an instructor near her house.
intransitive: learn to drive
Eli drove his family to the beach for a weekend trip.
Joon drives a white van for the food delivery service.
Ari drove the school bus along the same route for twenty years.
文法句型
drive + [vehicle]
drive + to + [place]
learn to drive
常見錯誤
2. To make a person, animal, or thing move in a particular direction, especially by
To make a person, animal, or thing move in a particular direction, especially by using physical force or pressure.
The strong wind drove the small boat onto the rocks near the harbor.
drive + [object] + onto [location] — physical force
Constanza drove the cattle into the barn before the storm arrived.
Hunger drove the stray cats to the back door of the restaurant every evening.
The farmer drove the sheep out of the field and into the truck.
Police drove the crowd back from the entrance of the government building.
文法句型
drive + [person/animal] + [direction]
drive + [person/animal] + into/out of/away
用法筆記
The object is often an animal or group of animals being moved from one place to another. The force may be physical (someone pushing) or natural (wind, hunger).
常見錯誤
3. To force someone into a difficult, unpleasant, or extreme emotional or physical
To force someone into a difficult, unpleasant, or extreme emotional or physical condition.
The constant noise from the construction site is driving the neighbors crazy.
drive + [person] + [adjective]: drive someone crazy/mad/insane
Losing his job drove Imran into a deep depression that lasted for several months.
drive + [person] + into + [state]
The long hours at work drove Felix to the point of complete exhaustion.
The terrible news drove her to the edge of despair.
Years of bullying at school drove Jude to consider leaving the town.
文法句型
drive + [person] + [adjective]
drive + [person] + to + [noun]
用法筆記
Commonly used with adjectives like 'crazy', 'mad', 'insane' to describe a result. Also used with 'into + [state]' (depression, despair) or 'to + [limit]' (the point of exhaustion).
常見錯誤
4. To make someone feel very irritated or angry, usually about a repeated or contin
To make someone feel very irritated or angry, usually about a repeated or continuous situation.
The way he always chews with his mouth open really drives me crazy.
informal: drive someone crazy (annoyance meaning)
It drives Roya nuts when people arrive late for meetings without calling first.
drive someone nuts — informal synonym for drive crazy
The constant barking of the neighbor's dog drives Théo up the wall every night.
The slow internet connection at the office drives Iker crazy every afternoon.
Repeating the same instructions three times drives Baraka up the wall with frustration.
文法句型
drive + [person] + [adjective of annoyance]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (FORCE INTO STATE): sense 3 describes pushing someone toward a general negative condition (depression, exhaustion), while sense 4 specifically means causing irritation or anger. Common in informal spoken English.
常見錯誤
5. To make someone feel strong sexual desire or excitement.
To make someone feel strong sexual desire or excitement.
The slow dance and soft music drove James wild with desire for his partner.
drive + [person] + wild + with + [desire]
The romantic scene in the film drove the couple crazy with passion.
The look in her eyes drove him wild every time she smiled at him.
The touch of his hand on her skin drove Constanza wild with desire.
The way Théo looked at her across the crowded room drove her crazy with longing.
文法句型
drive + [person] + [adjective of desire]
drive + [person] + wild/crazy + with + [desire/passion]
用法筆記
Informal. Often used with 'crazy' or 'wild' to describe strong attraction. The subject is typically a person's appearance, a romantic situation, or an attractive quality. More direct than 'attract' or 'excite'.
常見錯誤
6. To supply the energy or force that makes a machine, engine, or system operate an
To supply the energy or force that makes a machine, engine, or system operate and function.
The new wind turbines drive the pumps that bring water to the village.
drive + [machine] — providing power for operation
This industrial machine is driven by a powerful electric motor.
passive: be driven by [power source]
The solar panels drive the entire heating system for the building.
The engine is driven by steam produced in a large boiler nearby.
A small electric motor drives the fan that cools the computer parts.
文法句型
driven by + [power source]
drive + [machine/system]
用法筆記
Often used in passive form ('is driven by'). The subject is typically an energy source (engine, motor, wind, steam) and the object is a machine or mechanical system. For small electronic devices (clocks, radios), 'power' or 'run' is more common than 'drive'.
常見錯誤
7. To strike or kick a ball with great force in ball sports such as golf or cricket
To strike or kick a ball with great force in ball sports such as golf or cricket, sending it a long distance across the playing field.
Tomás drove the ball straight down the fairway with his driver.
collocation: drive + [ball] + direction phrase
Kwame drove the cricket ball over the boundary for six runs.
Emre drove the football across the pitch with a powerful kick.
Charlotte drove the golf ball more than two hundred metres from the tee.
文法句型
drive + noun phrase (the ball) + adverb of direction
8. In basketball or rugby, to sprint forcefully toward the opponent's goal while ca
In basketball or rugby, to sprint forcefully toward the opponent's goal while carrying or controlling the ball.
Anjali drove toward the basket and scored two points.
intransitive: drive toward + destination
Ilan drove the ball down the court and passed to a teammate.
transitive: drive + ball + direction
The rugby player drove through the opposing team's defence.
The point guard drove past three defenders and laid the ball in the net.
- charge
more forceful; often implies contact with opponents
文法句型
drive + toward / to + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense applies to ball-carrying movement in basketball and rugby; in other sports, use sense 7 for hitting a ball.
常見錯誤
9. In baseball, to hit the ball so that a runner already on a base scores or advanc
In baseball, to hit the ball so that a runner already on a base scores or advances around the diamond.
Charlotte drove in two runs with a double to left field.
pattern: drive in + [number] + run(s)
Mira drove the runner home from third base with a single.
pattern: drive + runner + home / in
Obi drove in the winning run during the final inning.
Emre drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
- bring in
common informal alternative; 'drive in' is the standard baseball term
文法句型
drive + in / home + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is used almost exclusively in baseball and softball. The object is typically a run or a runner, not the ball itself.
常見錯誤
10. To give energy, direction, or strong forward movement to something abstract, suc
To give energy, direction, or strong forward movement to something abstract, such as a project, a conversation, an economy, or an idea.
The new manager drove the project forward with fresh ideas.
pattern: drive + [project] + forward
Indra's questions drove the discussion into new territory.
pattern: drive + [abstract noun] + into + new area
Strong exports drove the country's economic growth last year.
The charity campaign was driven by a group of dedicated volunteers.
- push forward
slightly less forceful; implies continued effort rather than strong momentum
- propel
more formal; suggests quick, forceful movement
- fuel
suggests providing energy or resources rather than direction
文法句型
drive + noun phrase + adverb / forward
drive + noun phrase
常見錯誤
drives — noun
- drivessingular
- drivesesplural
1. an occasion when you travel somewhere inside a car, often for pleasure or to get
an occasion when you travel somewhere inside a car, often for pleasure or to get to a destination
Greta and her family went for a drive along the coast on Sunday morning.
go for a drive — common pattern for a leisure trip by car
The drive from Taichung to Taipei takes about two hours on the freeway.
Bao fell asleep during the long drive to his grandmother's house.
It is a three-hour drive from the airport to the mountain resort.
Kenji took his family on a scenic drive through the national park.
文法句型
go for a drive
take a drive
用法筆記
Often follows 'go for a' or 'take a' (e.g. 'go for a drive', 'take a long drive'). Duration phrases ('two-hour drive', 'long drive') are very common.
常見錯誤
2. the set of mechanical parts that carries power from a vehicle's engine to its wh
the set of mechanical parts that carries power from a vehicle's engine to its wheels so that it can move
Karim chose a truck with four-wheel drive because he lives in a mountain area.
four-wheel drive / all-wheel drive / front-wheel drive — standard collocations for vehicle power systems
The mechanic said the drive belt needed to be replaced before it broke.
Nora's new car has an electric drive system that makes almost no noise.
A broken drive shaft left the delivery van stuck on the highway.
- transmission
more specific; refers to the gear system within the drive
- drivetrain
broader; includes the engine, transmission, and drive system together
用法筆記
Usually appears in compound nouns like 'four-wheel drive', 'front-wheel drive', or 'drive shaft'. This sense is narrowly technical.
3. a word that appears in the name of a street, especially a short residential road
a word that appears in the name of a street, especially a short residential road with houses on both sides
Shanti lives at number twelve on Elm Drive, near the park.
used in street address names — always capitalised as part of the road name
The new community centre is on Park Drive, next to the baseball field.
Greta's parents bought a house on Willow Drive because the street is quiet.
The children walked from Lake Drive to School Lane every morning.
用法筆記
Always capitalised as part of a proper noun road name. 'Drive' in this use contrasts with 'Street', 'Avenue', 'Road', etc.
4. a short private road that leads from a public street to a house or building, whe
a short private road that leads from a public street to a house or building, where people can park their vehicles
Hamza pulled into the drive and parked his van next to the garage.
pull into the drive / park in the drive — common verb + noun collocations
Nila's father was washing his car in the drive when the mail carrier arrived.
Constanza backed her scooter out of the drive and onto the main road.
Obi shovelled snow off the drive so his mother could get the car out.
- driveway
the full form; more common in American English
用法筆記
Often used interchangeably with the longer form 'driveway'. Common verb partners include 'pull into', 'park in', 'back out of'.
常見錯誤
5. a series of organised actions carried out by a business, organisation, or group
a series of organised actions carried out by a business, organisation, or group to reach a practical goal, such as increasing sales, recruiting members, or raising awareness about an issue
The company launched a big advertising drive to promote its new smartphone.
advertising drive / recruitment drive / sales drive — common noun + noun collocations
Eitan took part in a recruitment drive to find new volunteers for the hospital.
The city started a cleanup drive to remove rubbish from all public parks.
Bao joined a voter registration drive that helped hundreds of students sign up.
- campaign
more general; can be longer-term and broader in scope
- initiative
more formal; often used in business or government contexts
- effort
less formal; does not imply the same level of organisation
用法筆記
Often used in compound nouns where the first word describes the goal: 'advertising drive', 'recruitment drive', 'sales drive'. Contrast with sense 6 (DONATION DRIVE), which is limited to collecting donated items for charity.
常見錯誤
6. an event during which people are asked to give money, food, clothes, or househol
an event during which people are asked to give money, food, clothes, or household goods to help people in need or support a charitable organisation
The local church held a food drive for families who lost their homes in the flood.
food drive / clothing drive / toy drive — common noun + noun collocations for charity events
Jason helped organise a book drive at his school to send storybooks to a village library.
Every winter the neighbourhood runs a coat drive for homeless shelters.
Nila's class collected two hundred kilograms of rice during the food drive.
- collection
simpler; can be for any purpose, not necessarily charity
用法筆記
Almost always appears in compound nouns that name the donated item: 'food drive', 'clothing drive', 'toy drive', 'book drive'. Unlike sense 5 (CAMPAIGN), which covers broader goal-driven efforts such as advertising or recruitment, this sense is restricted to charitable collection events.
7. A piece of equipment that stores digital information, like programs, documents,
A piece of equipment that stores digital information, like programs, documents, or photos inside a computer or connected to it.
Talia saved her school project onto a USB drive before leaving the library.
collocation: USB drive / hard drive / external drive
My computer's hard drive crashed, and I lost all my holiday photos.
The new external drive offers two terabytes of space for video files.
Olivia bought a portable drive to back up her music collection.
- disk
older term referring to the physical magnetic platter; often used interchangeably for hard drives
- storage device
more general term that covers any hardware used to store data
文法句型
noun + of + size/capacity
用法筆記
Commonly paired with words describing the storage technology: hard drive, flash drive, SSD, external drive.
常見錯誤
8. A strong inner energy and desire to work hard and succeed, even when things are
A strong inner energy and desire to work hard and succeed, even when things are difficult.
Walid has the drive to succeed; he studies every evening and never gives up.
pattern: have the drive + to-infinitive
Her natural drive and ambition helped her become the youngest store manager.
collocation: natural drive; drive and ambition
The team showed tremendous drive in the final minutes of the match.
Nila lost her drive for a while after failing the exam, but her family encouraged her.
- ambition
focuses on the desire for personal achievement or status, while 'drive' emphasizes the sustained effort
- motivation
broader term covering any reason to act; 'drive' implies a more forceful, energetic quality
- determination
emphasizes firmness of purpose; 'drive' also carries the idea of active energy
- laziness
lack of desire to act or work hard
文法句型
drive + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 5 (CAMPAIGN): sense 5 describes a planned group effort; sense 8 describes an individual's internal motivation.
常見錯誤
9. In golf, baseball, or cricket, a hit that sends the ball flying a long distance
In golf, baseball, or cricket, a hit that sends the ball flying a long distance with great power.
Jisoo hit a beautiful drive that landed just past the 300-metre mark on the fairway.
collocation: hit a drive
The batsman's drive flew past the fielder and raced to the boundary for four runs.
Zola stepped up to the tee and sent a powerful drive straight down the fairway.
Iris's drive from the tee rolled past the bunker and stopped near the green.
- shot
general term for any ball strike; 'drive' is a specific type of powerful, long shot
文法句型
hit/play a drive
用法筆記
In golf specifically, 'drive' often implies hitting from a tee with a driver club. In cricket and baseball, it refers to a straight shot hit with controlled power.
10. A quick, forceful charge with the ball toward the goal, common in basketball and
A quick, forceful charge with the ball toward the goal, common in basketball and rugby.
Linh made a strong drive toward the basket and scored an easy layup.
pattern: make a drive + toward + target
The rugby player's drive through the defence carried him across the try line.
Mira faked a pass and then started her drive to the net past two defenders.
Ritu's drive into the key drew a foul from the opposing centre.
文法句型
make a drive + toward/to + target
用法筆記
In basketball, a drive usually involves dribbling toward the hoop. In rugby, it may refer to a powerful run through opponents, often with multiple players pushing together.
11. A powerful natural need or force inside a person or animal that makes them behav
A powerful natural need or force inside a person or animal that makes them behave in a certain way, such as hunger, thirst, or the desire to reproduce.
Hunger is a basic drive that all living creatures experience every day.
pattern: basic drive + that-clause
The human sex drive is one of the strongest natural instincts we have.
collocation: sex drive / hunger drive
Kofi's drive to explore new places took him to six different countries by age twenty-five.
Some psychologists believe that the drive for social acceptance is as strong as the need for food.
文法句型
the + noun + to + verb
a + adjective + drive
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 8 (DETERMINATION): sense 8 describes a consciously directed ambition, while sense 11 refers to a deeper, often biological or psychological urge that operates partly outside conscious control.