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

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

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

He remains the driving force of the Invictus Games, which started with veterans, including some injured on the same tour as the prince.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

When historical or archaeological dates are examined in detail, they fail to support the view of irrigation as the driving force for state formation.

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