drive for knowledge

USAGE SUMMARY

"drive for knowledge" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a person's eagerness to learn and gain knowledge. For example, "John has a great drive for knowledge, so he spends many hours studying and reading."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Music and literature were an integral part of his life and his drive for knowledge was unbounded.

The New York Times

Coherent with the importance of the social aspects of decision-making, Armstrong [ 38] builds an interesting argument about the Darwinian evolution, social networking and the drive for knowledge discovery of the humanity as being some of the reasons that contribute to the human decision making potential.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In his 1994 book, "The Physics of Immortality," Frank J. Tipler, a specialist in relativity theory at Tulane University, showed how future beings might, in their drive for total knowledge, "resurrect" us in the form of computer simulations.

The New York Times - Magazine

Often relegated to supporting roles, women found ways to satisfy their drive for scientific knowledge despite being denied the recognition, prestige, or power enjoyed by their male colleagues.

Science Magazine

But reproducibility, scrutiny from other scientists, the drive for new knowledge, the glory of overturning orthodoxy, all drive science to a better understanding of an objective truth or our best approximation of it; this method of understanding the world is inherently incompatible with faith.

Huffington Post

This will keep you from being complacent and will continue to drive your hunger for knowledge.

WikiHow

These eight novels--seven of which were written by women--celebrate the globetrotting scientists and anthropologists whose insatiable drive for discovery and knowledge reveals universal truths about the way we live and love.  .

Huffington Post

"Maybe he did everything on his own initiative, possessed by a passion for knowledge, driven by a restless and unfocused compulsion?" he reckons.

The New York Times - Books

This week's relaunch follows research into the magazine's target audience of over-45s which it said revealed them to be "switched-on, self improving [and] media savvy with children still at home, driven by the desire for knowledge and self-improvement".

The Guardian

This was a costly and inefficient way of securing energy supplies, since oil is a fungible, global commodity that will find its way to the highest bidder regardless of embargoes or who owns the wells.The latest round of Chinese investment, by contrast, is driven by a thirst for knowledge.

The Economist

It is commonly argued that we are witnessing a shift from global production networks, driven by the search for markets and lower cost production sites, to global innovation networks (GINs), driven by the search for knowledge.

Research Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's commitment to learning, use "drive for knowledge" to convey a strong internal motivation, especially in academic or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "drive for knowledge" to describe a fleeting or superficial interest in a topic. Reserve it for individuals who demonstrate a sustained and deep commitment to learning and understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drive for knowledge" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a preposition or a subject complement. It describes a strong intrinsic motivation or ambition towards learning and understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drive for knowledge" effectively conveys a potent internal motivation to learn and understand, as affirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and versatile, appearing frequently in diverse sources like news media and scientific publications. While alternatives such as "thirst for knowledge" and "desire for knowledge" exist, "drive for knowledge" specifically emphasizes the proactive effort and ambition behind the pursuit of learning. Remember to reserve this phrase for individuals demonstrating a genuine, sustained commitment to expanding their understanding, and leverage its nuanced meaning in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Eagerness for knowledge

Focuses on the enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Desire for knowledge

Emphasizes the want and longing to acquire information.

Thirst for knowledge

Highlights the intensity of the need to learn, likening it to a basic human need.

Quest for knowledge

Implies a journey or active pursuit to gain understanding.

Motivation for knowledge

Points to the underlying reasons or incentives for seeking information.

Passion for knowledge

Highlights the strong enthusiasm and love for learning.

Hunger for knowledge

Conveys a strong, almost insatiable need to learn.

Enthusiasm for knowledge

Emphasizes positive excitement for learning.

Longing for knowledge

Highlights the yearning and desire to acquire information.

Zest for knowledge

Emphasizes an energetic and lively interest in learning.

FAQs

How can I use "drive for knowledge" in a sentence?

You can use "drive for knowledge" to describe someone's strong intrinsic motivation to learn, such as "Her "drive for knowledge" led her to pursue multiple degrees".

What's a good alternative to "drive for knowledge"?

Alternatives include "eagerness for knowledge", "thirst for knowledge", or "desire for knowledge", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "drive for knowledge" formal or informal?

"Drive for knowledge" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It is suitable for academic papers, professional evaluations, and casual conversations about someone's passion for learning.

How does "drive for knowledge" differ from "interest in knowledge"?

"Drive for knowledge" implies a stronger, more proactive pursuit of learning compared to a simple "interest in knowledge". The former suggests intrinsic motivation and effort, while the latter may indicate a passive curiosity.