driven

adjective

driv·​en ˈdri-vən How to pronounce driven (audio)
1
a
: having a compulsive or urgent quality
a driven sense of obligation
b
: determined to succeed : highly energetic and motivated
… a versatile yacht captained by a driven skipper who has won everything in the sport …Herb McCormick
Kinsey redoubled his efforts. If he had been driven before, now there was a manic quality to his work.David Halberstam
2
: propelled or motivated by something
used in combination
results-driven
a character-driven drama
drivenness noun
He was born two months premature and she has never stopped asking herself whether it was her drivenness, her refusal to rest, that caused it. Michele Magwood

Examples of driven in a Sentence

They are driven, successful people. a man with a driven need to be loved or liked by everyone
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition to embracing a clinically driven, pharmacist-centric approach to pharmacy care, PBM companies can adopt more transparent operating models that prioritize patient health while helping benefits plan sponsors substantially reduce drug spending. Danny Sanchez, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The richest person in the world, Musk is known as a driven, demanding executive who is willing to take bold risks, often with great rewards. arkansasonline.com, 5 Mar. 2025 The Folgore’s driven front wheels makes its steering heavier, whereas the Trofeo is rear-wheel drive. James Morris, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 And in both pieces, a theme is how driven Coach Hurley has been, and still is, by his failures as a player, even if he is now almost certainly destined to join his father in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for driven

Word History

Etymology

see drive entry 1

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of driven was in 1797

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Cite this Entry

“Driven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/driven. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

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