driving force

Idioms  

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.”

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Example Sentences

That fear is still a driving force; Amazon, Meta and Google’s parent all used their quarterly reports three months ago to project big jumps in capital spending this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Many cite “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt, who blames tech for teen anxiety, as a driving force.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Indian firms will be a key driving force, with Dr Reddy's Laboratories aiming to launch its version of semaglutide in Canada by May 2026.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

But the firm was originally focused on gaming and is still a driving force of innovation in the industry.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

But even that dynamic wasn’t unique; the same thing was happening in Wes’s neighborhood, where Hopkins was the driving force of change, aimed at improving the quality of life for students and faculty.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore