driven

adjective

driv·​en ˈdri-vən 

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

ˈdri-vən-nəs 

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

Synonyms

• besetting
• compulsive
• impulsive
• obsessional
• obsessive

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

Haunted by an investigation that went unsolved years ago, the aged and beleaguered yet incredibly astute Deke is drawn back into the world of homicide after teaming up with the young, driven, idealistic Jim Baxter (Malek). —Travis Bean, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024

Founders are original, driven, quirky, apt to work 100-hour weeks, drive fast cars and shoot off their mouths. —Rich Karlgaard, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

Iceman is more Nix’s personality — confident, driven, rigid and dedicated. —Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024

The common narrative suggests that European founders are less driven, that venture capital in Europe lags far behind, and that the continent’s fragmented markets and complicated regulatory environments stifle creativity and innovation. —Kjartan Rist, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see drive entry 1

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing driven

• (as) pure as the driven snow
• driven bonkers
• menu-driven