driving force

1. The impetus, power, or energy behind something in motion, as in He was clearly the driving force in the new administration. This term transfers the force that sets in motion an engine or vehicle to other enterprises. Ralph Waldo Emerson was among the first to use it figuratively (English Traits, 1856): “The ability of its journals is the driving force.”

Example Sentences

“Kids and preteens,” a recent National Research Group report concluded, “have been the driving force behind many of the biggest theatrical success stories of the past three years.”

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Gemini’s continued adoption has been a driving force behind the Alphabet rally this year, as investors look to see if Google’s offering can compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

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“It seems likely that Todd Combs and/or Ted Weschler would have been the driving force behind this new purchase,” wrote Bill Stone, chief investment officer at Glenview Trust, in a client note Monday.

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The driving force of the stock selloff on Thursday was the rapid repricing of expectations of a December rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

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The tight bonds that Highland Avenue bred are a driving force behind the rebuilding efforts.

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