driven

American  

[driv-uhn] / ˈdrɪv ən /

verb

1. past participle of drive.

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adjective

1. being under compulsion, as to succeed or excel.

   a driven young man who was fiercely competitive.

2. controlled or propelled by something specified (used in combination).

   a market-driven approach to retaining talent; data-driven business strategies; a water pump that is solar driven.

driven British  

/ ˈdrɪvən /

verb

1. the past participle of drive

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driven Idioms  

1. see pure as the driven snow.

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Other Word Forms

• drivenness noun
• undriven adjective
• well-driven adjective

Etymology

Origin of driven

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective for an earlier sense

Example Sentences

The team believes the process is driven by a gravitational tug-of-war between the star and its planet, known as tidal interaction.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

Rooted in epic and devotional storytelling, it played out on all-sided stages, driven by heightened voice, gesture and costume.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

It was driven by strong easterly Santa Ana winds of 30 to 40 mph.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

TYG, an energy infrastructure fund, has returned 17% this year, driven by Middle East tensions and AI demand for power.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

For a long time now I had driven the sled to the ice and helped him load the heavy seals on the sled, and driven back home.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell