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

The driving force behind this new mandate was a changing mindset in the U.A.E. about the clean energy transition.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

“The Devil Wears Prada” taught me to appreciate film in a profound, scholarly way that would later become my life’s driving force.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

It also cited strong AI demand as a driving force for its plan to spend $190 billion in capex this calendar year—about 23% more than what Wall Street was expecting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Beyond the winning, Guerra cited Shohei Ohtani as a driving force behind the Dodgers’ popularity, and not just as a tourist attraction, merchandise driver, and the foremost product endorser in sports.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

In short, the themes of GGS seem to me to be not only a driving force in the ancient world but also a ripe area for study in the modern world.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond