drive quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drive quickly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe that someone is driving faster than usual or going faster than the speed limit. For example, "Bob was late for work, so he had to drive quickly to get there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The homeowners here on Adams Drive know the drill: Drive slowly to keep the splash down, or drive quickly and risk ruining your car.

The New York Times

"I drive quickly to catch up the time I haven't lost".

Independent

Some people always prefer motorways and drive quickly, others would much rather drive on local roads and some like to keep moving even if that means a long detour around a traffic jam.

The Economist

His core strategic position was to drive quickly, hold the centre of the road, force other drivers to other extremes and indefensible positions, leaving them marginalised and broken down by the side of the road".

The Guardian

If the aggressive styling doesn't convince you, a drive quickly makes it clear that Nissan has met the Big Three head-on, rather than dancing around them as Toyota did with its seven-eighths-scale Tundra.

The New York Times

It is one of many so-called bypass roads built throughout the West Bank in the last few years to enable Israelis to drive quickly -- and, people had thought, safely -- around potentially hostile Palestinian villages.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Then they drove quickly out of town.

The New York Times - Magazine

The water flooding sweeps evenly and the edge-bottom water drives quickly in braid river sandstone.

Petroleum Exploration and Development

But what the hell was I thinking?" The Suburban drove quickly away.

The New York Times

A silver van carrying him drove quickly away, its curtains tightly closed.

The Guardian

His comrades picked up the body and drove quickly from the scene, they said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drive quickly" when you want to emphasize the speed of driving in a specific situation. It's suitable for describing actions taken due to time constraints or urgency.

Common error

Be mindful that adverbs like "quickly" can sometimes be misplaced. Ensure that "quickly" modifies "drive" and not another part of the sentence to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drive quickly" functions as a verb phrase where "quickly" modifies the verb "drive". As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to describe the manner of driving, indicating a higher speed than usual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drive quickly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of operating a vehicle at a higher speed than normal. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for conveying urgency or highlighting a need for speed. Analysis of the examples shows its prevalence in news and media, wiki content, and scientific contexts, indicating its adaptability across different registers. While synonyms like "drive fast" exist, "drive quickly" offers a specific nuance that makes it a valuable phrase for writers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drive fast

Replaces "quickly" with "fast", a more common and direct synonym.

speed along

Uses a verb phrase to describe moving rapidly in a vehicle.

hasten by car

Emphasizes urgency and the mode of transport.

move rapidly by vehicle

A more formal and descriptive alternative.

make haste while driving

Combines the idea of speed with the act of driving.

accelerate swiftly

Focuses on the acceleration aspect of driving.

race along the road

Suggests a sense of urgency and competition.

zoom down the street

Implies a very fast and often reckless manner of driving.

expedite the car's progress

A formal way to express the idea of making the car go faster.

step on it

An informal and idiomatic way to tell someone to drive faster.

FAQs

How can I use "drive quickly" in a sentence?

You can use "drive quickly" to describe someone increasing their speed while operating a vehicle, such as "He had to "drive quickly" to the hospital."

What is another way to say "drive quickly"?

Alternatives to "drive quickly" include "drive fast", "speed along", or "hasten by car", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it grammatically correct to say "drive quickly"?

Yes, "drive quickly" is grammatically correct. "Drive" is a verb, and "quickly" is an adverb modifying the verb.

What's the difference between "drive quickly" and "driving quickly"?

"Drive quickly" is often used as an imperative or infinitive form, while "driving quickly" is a present participle form used to describe an ongoing action. For example, "Drive quickly!" versus "He was "driving quickly"."