driven by a desire

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "driven by a desire" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about someone's ambition or goals that they are working towards. For example: "He was driven by a desire to become a successful entrepreneur."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The governor's men frame their discussions as driven by a desire to accommodate the mayor.

The New York Times

Like their parents, Ruben and Isabel were driven by a desire to assimilate.

The New Yorker

"The industry is driven by a desire to pursue profit," she said.

The New York Times

They're driven by a desire to block him at every pass.

The New York Times

He is driven by a desire for greater digital inclusiveness, rather than knee-jerk anti-commercialism.

The Economist

Are the proposed changes driven by a desire to reinstate the "access to justice" principle?

The Guardian - Opinion

Both athletes and dancers are driven by a desire for excellence.

The New York Times - Arts

This may be driven by a desire to lock in record low interest rates.

The Guardian - Business

Much of their experimentation is driven by a desire to reduce food waste.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This may be driven by a desire to avoid regulation or legal constraints in some countries.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Schork was driven by a desire to ensure that nobody could claim ignorance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "driven by a desire" to clearly convey that someone's actions are strongly influenced by a particular aspiration or goal.

Common error

Avoid consistently using "driven by a desire" in passive voice. Vary sentence structure to maintain reader engagement. Instead of "The project was driven by a desire for innovation", try "A desire for innovation drove the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by a desire" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the motivating force behind someone's actions or decisions. Ludwig confirms its valid usage, providing numerous examples where it clarifies the impetus for a particular behavior or goal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "driven by a desire" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone's actions are strongly motivated by a particular goal or aspiration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While versatile, varying sentence structure can prevent overuse of passive constructions. Alternatives include phrases like "motivated by a yearning" or "propelled by an ambition". Ultimately, "driven by a desire" effectively communicates the driving force behind actions and decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by a yearning

Replaces "desire" with "yearning", emphasizing a strong feeling of wanting something.

propelled by an ambition

Uses "ambition" instead of "desire", highlighting a strong drive for achievement.

fueled by a passion

Substitutes "desire" with "passion", stressing intense enthusiasm and commitment.

inspired by a vision

Replaces "desire" with "vision", focusing on a clear mental image of the future.

guided by a purpose

Uses "purpose" instead of "desire", indicating a sense of direction and meaning.

led by a motivation

Substitutes "desire" with "motivation", emphasizing the underlying reason for action.

compelled by an urge

Replaces "desire" with "urge", highlighting a strong impulse or need.

prompted by a craving

Uses "craving" instead of "desire", stressing a strong and often irresistible want.

incited by a longing

Substitutes "desire" with "longing", emphasizing a persistent and deep yearning.

animated by a dream

Replaces "desire" with "dream", focusing on an aspiration or ideal.

FAQs

How can I use "driven by a desire" in a sentence?

You can use "driven by a desire" to explain the motivations behind someone's actions. For example: "She was "driven by a desire" to help others."

What are some alternatives to "driven by a desire"?

Alternatives include phrases like "motivated by a yearning", "propelled by an ambition", or "fueled by a passion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "driven by desire" or "driven by a desire"?

While "driven by desire" is grammatically correct, "driven by a desire" is often preferred as it implies a specific, focused aspiration rather than a general state of wanting.

What's the difference between "driven by a need" and "driven by a desire"?

"Driven by a need" implies actions are compelled by necessity, whereas ""driven by a desire"" suggests actions are motivated by aspiration, want or ambition.