What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
drive
Example
I learned how to drive a car when I was sixteen. [drive: verb]
Example
The engine uses a belt to drive the wheels. [drive: verb]
Example
Her ambition and determination drive her to succeed. [drive: verb]
propel
Example
The wind can propel a sailboat across the water. [propel: verb]
Example
The athlete used his strength to propel the shot put farther than his competitors. [propel: verb]
Example
Her passion for social justice propelled her to run for office. [propelled: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Drive is more commonly used than propel in everyday language. Drive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while propel is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between drive and propel?
Propel is generally considered more formal than drive. While drive can be used in both formal and informal contexts, propel is more often used in academic or technical writing.
