drove

¹ American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

verb

1. simple past tense of drive.

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drove ² American  

[drohv] / droʊv /

noun

1. a number of oxen, sheep, or swine driven in a group; herd; flock.

2. Usually droves a large crowd of human beings, especially in motion.

   They came to Yankee Stadium in droves.

3. Also called drove chisel.  Masonry. a chisel, from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) broad at the edge, for dressing stones to an approximately true surface.

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verb (used with or without object)

droved, droving

1. to drive or deal in (cattle) as a drover; herd.

2. Masonry. to work or smooth (stone) as with a drove.

drove ¹ British  

/ drəʊv /

noun

1. a herd of livestock being driven together

2. (often plural) a moving crowd of people

3. a narrow irrigation channel

4. Also called: drove chisel.  a chisel with a broad edge used for dressing stone

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verb

1. 1. (tr) to drive (a group of livestock), usually for a considerable distance

   2. (intr) to be employed as a drover

2. to work (a stone surface) with a drove

drove ² British  

/ drəʊv /

verb

1. the past tense of drive

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Related Words

See flock ¹.

Etymology

Origin of drove

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English drāf “that which is driven,” i.e., “herd, flock”; akin to drive

Example Sentences

On a sunny Sunday in Artesia, Multani, Sidhu and Gill took photographs in front of Sidhu Moose Wala murals, then Multani, Sidhu and Gill drove together to their respective destinations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

He also drove the company’s transition to custom silicon, allowing Apple to have more control over its hardware and software ecosystem through the use of in-house chips.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

OTTAWA—Sharply higher prices at the pump last month drove inflation in Canada to its hottest in three months.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

After Friday’s euphoria drove stock indexes to new highs when it was announced the strait was open, things look rather messier on Monday.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

Mom honked the horn at him—three light, happy honks—and then she drove away.

From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold