driving away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driving away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of departing in a vehicle or metaphorically to indicate causing someone to leave or feel unwelcome. Example: "After the argument, she felt he was driving her away with his harsh words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

zone and driving away.

The New York Times - Sports

She considered just driving away.

The New York Times - Magazine

He squarely blames the truffle smell for driving away buyers.

The New York Times

"I felt really upset, driving away from her," she admits.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"What a cheap guy," the cabby yelled before driving away.

The New York Times

They were driving away when the wave hit.

The Guardian - Books

Marriott's intense work ethic was driving away talented managers.

Harvard Business Review

While driving away from the scene, the robber pulled off his ski mask.

Cornell University

The police found tracks of the motorcycle driving away from the scene, he said.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Then he went from one classroom to another, shooting, before stealing a car and driving away.

The New Yorker

Within seconds, they were driving away to a hide-out just 20 minutes away.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's emotional state, use "driving away" metaphorically to illustrate feelings of being pushed away or isolated by someone's actions or words.

Common error

Avoid using "driving away" when you simply mean 'leaving' if the context doesn't imply a forced or unwelcomed departure. Use alternatives like "departing" or "leaving" for more neutral situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driving away" functions primarily as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle used in continuous tenses. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately describes the action of departing in a vehicle or, metaphorically, causing someone to leave or feel unwelcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

10%

Huffington Post

9%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "driving away" is a versatile and frequently used verb phrase, recognized by Ludwig AI as grammatically correct. It serves to describe both the physical act of departing in a vehicle and the metaphorical act of causing someone to leave or feel unwelcome. Its usage spans across various contexts, from news and media to academic and formal business settings. While alternatives such as "driving off" and "pulling away" exist, "driving away" maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing purposes. Remember to use it appropriately, avoiding metaphorical application when a simple 'leaving' would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

driving off

Similar meaning, implying a quick or sudden departure in a vehicle.

pulling away

Suggests a gradual or steady departure, often from a stationary position.

speeding away

Emphasizes the rapid pace of departure.

fleeing the scene

Indicates a hurried departure, often to escape danger or legal consequences.

running away

Focuses on escaping or avoiding a situation or person, not necessarily by car.

chasing away

Implies actively causing something or someone to leave.

scaring off

Suggests that something is being driven away due to fear.

deterring

Focuses on preventing someone from approaching or doing something.

repelling

Suggests a strong force pushing something or someone away.

warding off

implies defending against or averting something undesirable.

FAQs

How can I use "driving away" in a sentence?

You can use "driving away" to describe someone physically departing in a vehicle, such as "He was "driving away" from the scene of the accident". It can also be used metaphorically to describe pushing someone away emotionally, like "His constant criticism was "driving away" his friends".

What are some alternatives to "driving away"?

Some alternatives include "driving off", "pulling away", "fleeing" (if escaping a situation), or "chasing away" (if causing something to leave).

Is it correct to say "driving away from" or "driving away from the"?

Both "driving away from" and "driving away from the" are grammatically correct, but the choice depends on the context. Use "driving away from" when referring to a general location, and "driving away from the" when referring to a specific location or thing.

What's the difference between "driving away" and "scaring off"?

"Driving away" can imply either a physical departure in a vehicle or a metaphorical emotional distancing. "Scaring off", on the other hand, specifically means causing someone or something to leave because they are frightened or intimidated.