Showing Results for "drove"

See Also:

• past tense form of drive.

drove

¹ American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

verb

1. simple past tense of drive.

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drove ² American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

noun

1. a number of oxen, sheep, or swine driven in a group; herd; flock.

2. Usually droves a large crowd of human beings, especially in motion.

   They came to Yankee Stadium in droves.

3. Also called drove chisel.  Masonry. a chisel, from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) broad at the edge, for dressing stones to an approximately true surface.

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verb (used with or without object)

droved, droving

1. to drive or deal in (cattle) as a drover; herd.

2. Masonry. to work or smooth (stone) as with a drove.

drove ¹ British  

/ drəʊv /

noun

1. a herd of livestock being driven together

2. (often plural) a moving crowd of people

3. a narrow irrigation channel

4. Also called: drove chisel.  a chisel with a broad edge used for dressing stone

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verb

1. 1. (tr) to drive (a group of livestock), usually for a considerable distance

   2. (intr) to be employed as a drover

2. to work (a stone surface) with a drove

drove ² British  

/ drəʊv /

verb

1. the past tense of drive

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Synonym Usage

See flock ¹.

Etymology

Origin of drove

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English drāf “that which is driven,” i.e., “herd, flock”; akin to drive

Example Sentences

Messi, who drove Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar four years ago, lashed in the penalty as the reigning champions eased to a 3-0 win.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

A third straight rise in Canadian exports of cars and light trucks drove a 5.9% rise in motor vehicle shipments as auto production increased.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Although she and Peter Grossman were separated at the time, the vehicle she drove belonged to him.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Previous El Niño events significantly drove up wheat and rice prices by reducing yields in Australia and the Russia-Ukraine-Kazakhstan region.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Trudging and slipping as he drove his men across the ice, Elisha Kent Kane reportedly carried Maggie Fox’s portrait “strapped on his back.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock