Showing results for "driven"

• past participle of drive.

driven

American  

[driv-uhn] / ˈdrɪv ən /

verb

1. past participle of drive.

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adjective

1. being under compulsion, as to succeed or excel.

   a driven young man who was fiercely competitive.

2. controlled or propelled by something specified (used in combination).

   a market-driven approach to retaining talent; data-driven business strategies; a water pump that is solar driven.

driven British  

/ ˈdrɪvən /

verb

1. the past participle of drive

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driven Idioms  

1. see pure as the driven snow.

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Other Word Forms

• drivenness
  noun
• undriven
  adjective
• well-driven
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of driven

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective for an earlier sense

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Explanation

If you're driven, you're strongly compelled or motivated to achieve a goal. If you're a driven gymnast, you spend hours in the gym each night perfecting your balance beam routine. If you know someone who is incredibly ambitious and hard working, you can call them driven. It takes a driven student to make it through medical school, and a driven dog musher to complete the Iditarod. In other words, you need drive, or determination, to achieve these things. Driven can also mean "moved and piled into drifts by wind," often in the phrase "driven snow." When combined with another noun, it can mean "propelled or powered," as in "a wind-driven boat."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

driven

“Drone delivery has become a global reality, driven by clear demand from our partners and their customers,” Wing Chief Executive Adam Woodworth said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

The rolling weighted 12-month EPS estimate for the index has increased by 155%, as some of the heaviest-weighted companies have shown remarkable growth in sales and profits, driven by the AI infrastructure build-out.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

Cheaper grain, dairy and meat pulled global food prices lower in October, offsetting a sharp sugar rally driven by weather-related supply disruptions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

“DKNG’s desire to be best-in-class has driven its top-line success, but greater guardrails around spend, particularly in the current regulatory backdrop, are critical to drive the bottom line and stock,” she added.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

Alvarez was with the first group of American pilots driven by bus to the Hanoi airport.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

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