Phrase guide

drive out

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To push or to pull, i.e. to force, (someone or something) out of somewhere.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flush, expel

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To set closely; to take up less space because the typesetter uses type that is thinner than the copy or the typesetter whites out more or squeezes in more lines on each page.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get in

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see drive, out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

clear out the chest and lungs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This drug expectorates quickly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expectorate, clear out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw

5

verb

Meaning 5

force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Drive away potential burglars
  • drive away bad thoughts
  • dispel doubts
  • The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chase away, turn back, drive away, dispel, drive off, run off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move, displace

Narrower terms: frighten, fire, clear the air, banish, shoo off, shoo, shoo away

6

verb

Meaning 6

force or drive out

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The police routed them out of bed at 2 A.M.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rout out, force out, rouse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: move, displace

Narrower terms: hunt, smoke out

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: طَرَدَ (ṭarada) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Bulgarian: гоня (gonja) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Bulgarian: изгонвам (izgonvam) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Bulgarian: изгоня (izgonja) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Bulgarian: прогонвам (progonvam) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Bulgarian: прогоня (progonja) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Bulgarian: пъдя (pǎdja) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Czech: vyhnat — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Esperanto: elpeli — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Finnish: häätää — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Finnish: ajaa tiehensä — to force someone out of somewhere
  • French: éconduire — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Galician: correr — to force someone out of somewhere
  • German: austreiben — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Gothic: 𐌿𐍃𐌳𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (usdreiban) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Ancient Greek: ἐξελαύνω (exelaúnō) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Irish: ruaig — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Latin: exigō — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Māori: atiati — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Russian: изгонять (izgonjatʹ) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Russian: вытеснять (vytesnjatʹ) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Sanskrit: इङ्गति (iṅgati) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Tocharian B: lut- — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Ugaritic: 𐎂𐎗𐎌 (grš) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Ukrainian: виганя́ти (vyhanjáty) — to force someone out of somewhere
  • Ukrainian: ви́гнати (výhnaty) — to force someone out of somewhere