1 A2 neutral
To enter a place, area, or space while driving a vehicle.
"The delivery van drove in through the back gate and parked near the loading bay."
inseparable
drive in
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To enter a place in a vehicle, or to hammer or push something into a surface.
In plain English
Go into a place by car, or bang something (like a nail) into a surface.
What does "drive in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To force a nail, screw, post, or other object into a surface by striking or applying pressure.
"He drove in the last few nails and stepped back to admire the new shelf."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move inward by driving or to push something inward.
Actually means
Go into a place by car, or bang something (like a nail) into a surface.
Usage tip
The vehicle sense is very common and transparent. The 'hammering' sense (e.g. driving in a nail or a screw) is also widely used in construction and DIY contexts. The noun 'drive-in' (e.g. drive-in cinema, drive-in restaurant) derives from this phrasal verb.
Words that pair with "drive in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
nail screw stake car driveway gate post
How to conjugate "drive in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
drive in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drives in
he/she/it
Past simple
drove in
yesterday
Past participle
driven in
have + pp
-ing form
driving in
continuous
Hear "drive in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "drive in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "drive in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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