1 A2 neutral
To leave a place by driving a vehicle.
"The suspect drove off before the police could reach the scene."
inseparable
drive off
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To leave a place in a vehicle, or to force a person or animal to go away.
In plain English
Leave in a car, or make someone go away by scaring or forcing them.
What does "drive off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To force a person, animal, or group to leave by threatening or attacking them.
"The farmer used noise and bright lights to drive off the foxes raiding the henhouse."
separable
3 B2 neutral
In golf, to hit a ball from the tee at the start of a hole.
"He drove off magnificently and the ball landed within metres of the green."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To drive a vehicle away from a place.
Actually means
Leave in a car, or make someone go away by scaring or forcing them.
Usage tip
Very similar to 'drive away'. Also used in golf to mean hitting the ball from the tee at the start of a hole. In the sense of repelling, it is slightly more forceful in connotation than 'drive away'.
Words that pair with "drive off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
attacker intruder car tee predator competition
How to conjugate "drive off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
drive off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drives off
he/she/it
Past simple
drove off
yesterday
Past participle
driven off
have + pp
-ing form
driving off
continuous
Hear "drive off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "drive off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "drive off"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.