Meaning & use
driving force
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Meanings
nouncountable
The person, idea, or influence that pushes something forward and makes it happen.
Grammar: Usually singular and followed by behind: the driving force behind the project.
Patterns
- the driving force behind something
- a driving force in something
Curiosity was the driving force behind her career in science.
The founder was the driving force behind the festival.
Lower prices became the driving force in the market.
nouncountabletechnical
A push or pull that makes a machine or system move or work.
Grammar: Used in technical contexts: the driving force of the pump.
Patterns
- the driving force of a machine
Pressure difference is the driving force that moves water through the pipe.
A temperature gradient serves as the driving force for the reaction.
The engine supplies the driving force for the wheels.
Word forms
| plural | driving forces |
|---|
Common combinations
- the driving force behind
- She was the driving force behind the charity.
- main driving force
- Demand is the main driving force of growth.
- become a driving force
- Social media has become a driving force in politics.
- key driving force
- Technology is a key driving force of change.
- remain the driving force
- Passion remained the driving force for the team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- motivator
- Motivator focuses on whatever inspires effort and is usually a person or reason, while driving force sounds more powerful and large-scale.
- catalyst
- A catalyst starts or speeds a change but may not keep it going, whereas a driving force sustains it.
- mainspring
- Mainspring is more literary and stresses the source of an action.
- engine
- Engine is a metaphor and is often used with growth, as in an engine of growth.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
Which preposition completes the phrase? She is the driving force ___ the school's new garden project.
Choose one answer.
The standard collocation is driving force behind something. The other prepositions are not used in this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “driving force”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.