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drive out

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

Make someone or something leave a place completely and not come back.

Literal meaning: To drive a vehicle out of a place.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To leave a place in a vehicle.

"She drove out of the car park without paying the ticket."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To force a person, group, or organisation to leave a place or position, often permanently.

"Rising rents are driving out small independent shops from the city centre."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To eliminate a feeling, thought, or negative force.

"Love drives out fear — that was the central message of his sermon."

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."

— The Bible, 1 John 4:18 (King James Version)
Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Often used in political, historical, or military contexts to describe the expulsion of people. Also used figuratively to describe eliminating competitors, fears, or negative things.

Commonly used with

competitors enemy residents fear darkness business invaders

Forms

Base
drive out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drives out
he/she/it
Past simple
drove out
yesterday
Past participle
driven out
have + pp
-ing form
driving out
continuous

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Synonyms

expel evict force out oust eject banish

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