drove

¹ American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

verb

1. simple past tense of drive.

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drove ² American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

noun

1. a number of oxen, sheep, or swine driven in a group; herd; flock.

2. Usually droves a large crowd of human beings, especially in motion.

   They came to Yankee Stadium in droves.

3. Also called drove chisel.  Masonry. a chisel, from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) broad at the edge, for dressing stones to an approximately true surface.

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verb (used with or without object)

droved, droving

1. to drive or deal in (cattle) as a drover; herd.

2. Masonry. to work or smooth (stone) as with a drove.

drove ¹ British  

/ drəʊv /

noun

1. a herd of livestock being driven together

2. (often plural) a moving crowd of people

3. a narrow irrigation channel

4. Also called: drove chisel.  a chisel with a broad edge used for dressing stone

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verb

1. 1. (tr) to drive (a group of livestock), usually for a considerable distance

   2. (intr) to be employed as a drover

2. to work (a stone surface) with a drove

drove ² British  

/ drəʊv /

verb

1. the past tense of drive

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Synonym Usage

See flock ¹.

Etymology

Origin of drove

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English drāf “that which is driven,” i.e., “herd, flock”; akin to drive

Example Sentences

Messi, who drove Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar four years ago, lashed in the penalty as the reigning champions eased to a 3-0 win.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Canada’s goods-trade surplus widened to a 15-month high as shipments of crude oil and vehicles to the U.S. drove exports to a record.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Previous El Niño events significantly drove up wheat and rice prices by reducing yields in Australia and the Russia-Ukraine-Kazakhstan region.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

“From that point on I drove my family crazy, like I’m going to turn pro. Because I wanted to show the rest of the world Americans could play soccer. That’s what was driving me.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026

So terrified of the master, so imprisoned by the poverty that drove us here that we never even try.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo