Showing results for "drove"

• past tense form of drive.

drove

¹ American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

verb

1. simple past tense of drive.

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drove ² American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

noun

droves plural

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• droves
  plural

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

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed it received a report of "three abandoned pigs in Lambs Hill Drove, March" on Wednesday and said the council dog warden was dealing with the incident.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

During a practice, Cousins explains that Celine Dion provided the soundtrack of his youth, promising a coach that “If you play Celine Dion ‘I Drove All Night,’ I’ll have the best practice I’ve ever had.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Levon Helm's vocals are at their most plaintive and resonant on "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," a now controversial song that aches with sadness and loss.

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2023

Thursday’s Game: Drove two balls to deep left field, one for a single and one for an out on the warning track.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 22, 2022

Drove with a small group out to a bunker in a forest near the city.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin