drive into

USAGE SUMMARY

"drive into" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe driving a vehicle, person, or animal into a certain space or area. For example, "I drove my car into the parking lot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I drive into lake".

The Guardian - Books

The drive into Manhattan is even worse.

The New York Times

They drive into the Grand Canyon.

The New York Times

Barbara Rosenthal liked to drive into Manhattan.

The New Yorker

You drive into a sprawling car park.

The Guardian - Travel

Then I'd drive into the city.

The New Yorker

straightforward low drive into the net.

The Guardian - Sport

Cross narrow drive into field opposite.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He had banana'ed his drive into the woods.

The Economist

"I heard a vehicle drive into the hospital yard.

The New Yorker

They don't want you to drive into the city".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotations of force or impact when choosing "drive into" versus gentler alternatives like "pull into" or "enter". The phrase can imply a collision or a forceful entry, depending on context.

Common error

Avoid using "drive into" when you mean a gentle or controlled entry. For example, instead of "He drove into the parking space", use "He pulled into the parking space" if the action was smooth and deliberate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drive into" primarily functions as a phrasal verb. It combines the action of operating a vehicle ("drive") with a preposition indicating direction and entry ("into"). As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

35%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drive into" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the action of a vehicle entering a space or colliding with an object. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is correct and versatile. It appears frequently in neutral contexts such as news and media, and is essential to consider the implied connotations of force and impact to prevent confusion with similar alternatives like "pull into" or "drive to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ram into

Conveys a deliberate and forceful collision, emphasizing the intent behind the impact.

crash into

Implies a forceful impact, adding a sense of collision absent in the original phrase.

smash into

Highlights the destructive force of the impact, implying breakage or damage.

plunge into

Suggests a rapid, often uncontrolled, descent or entry, emphasizing speed and depth.

veer into

Indicates a sudden change in direction leading to an entry, often unintentional.

drift into

Suggests a gradual and passive movement, lacking the deliberate action of driving.

enter by car

Replaces the phrasal verb with a more descriptive phrase, specifying the mode of entry.

proceed into

Suggests a formal or deliberate entry, often in a structured or orderly manner.

advance into

Implies a strategic or planned movement forward, often in a military or competitive context.

drive towards

Indicates movement in the direction of something, but without necessarily making contact.

FAQs

How is "drive into" different from "drive to"?

"Drive to" indicates the destination, while "drive into" implies entering or sometimes colliding with something. For example, "I drove to the store" versus "I drove into a tree".

What are some synonyms for "drive into" when referring to a collision?

When referring to a collision, synonyms for "drive into" include "crash into", "smash into", or "ram into". Each suggests a different level of impact.

Can "drive into" be used metaphorically?

While less common, "drive into" can be used metaphorically to describe forcefully entering a state or situation. However, it's important to ensure the context clearly supports this interpretation.

Is it correct to say "drive in" instead of "drive into"?

The correctness depends on the context. "Drive in" often refers to a drive-in establishment, while "drive into" specifies entering something. For example, "Let's go to a drive in" versus "She drove into the city".