driving

driving — noun

1. the skill or activity of operating a car, truck, or other vehicle in order to tr

1.nounA1
Definition

the skill or activity of operating a car, truck, or other vehicle in order to travel from one place to another

Example

Asher passed his driving test on the very first try.

collocation: driving test

Driving in heavy rain requires extra care and patience.

gerund subject: Driving in + condition

Common collocations
  • driving test
  • driving licence
  • driving lesson
  • driving instructor
  • driving school
  • defensive driving
  • reckless driving
  • driving conditions
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the + noun, often modified by an adjective (safe driving, reckless driving)

Usage Note

Uncountable — do not say 'a driving' or 'drivings'. Typical collocations include driving test, driving licence, driving lesson, and reckless driving.

Common Mistakes

I took a driving last summer.
I took driving lessons last summer.
driving is uncountable and cannot be used with 'a'.
She drived very well.
She drives very well.
the verb 'drive' is irregular: drive/drove/driven.
Idioms

be in the driving seat

idiom

to be in a position of control over a situation

After the promotion, Eshe was in the driving seat for the new project.

driving — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe something that exerts energy or influence, but they differ in focus. 'Driving' (used before a noun) emphasises relentless forward momentum — a driving ambition keeps pushing you even when things get hard. 'Powerful' is broader and can describe physical strength (a powerful engine), emotional impact (a powerful speech), or influence (a powerful person). 'Forceful' suggests confident, assertive expression — a forceful argument or a forceful personality. 'Compelling' focuses on irresistible attraction or persuasion — a compelling story makes you want to keep reading, and a compelling reason is hard to ignore. 'Motivating' is more practical, describing what gives someone energy to act — a motivating coach or a motivating bonus plan. For example: 'Her driving ambition made her work late every night' (relentless push). 'He gave a forceful speech that silenced the critics' (assertive confidence). 'The evidence was so compelling that the judge changed her mind' (irresistible persuasion).

powerful ↗forceful ↗compelling ↗motivating ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the driving seat
  • driving force behind

Prepositions

  • under (driving conditions)
  • in (driving rain)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'driving' comes from Old English 'drifan', meaning 'to push forward, urge forward, or compel'. This original sense of pushing force carries through to all modern meanings. The noun sense (the activity of operating a vehicle) dates from the early days of automobiles in the late 19th century. The adjective senses emerged even earlier: 'driving rain' was first recorded in the 1600s, describing rain that is pushed by the wind. The musical sense (a driving beat) appeared in the early 1900s with jazz, and the abstract sense of powerful motivation (driving ambition, driving force) developed in the mid-1800s.