he is driven to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is driven to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong motivation or compulsion to do something. Example: "He is driven to succeed in his career, often working late into the night to achieve his goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

He is driven to excel.

The New York Times - Sports

Why do you think he is driven to this act?

The New Yorker

"There's no question he is driven to be the greatest coach in the game".

The New York Times - Sports

Like his grandfather and father before him, he is driven to be a pioneer.

The New York Times

On many days, he is driven to an NBC television studio in a chauffeured car.

The New York Times

He is driven to win, but he is also inspired by a paralyzed former linemate.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

He's driven to win.

The New York Times

Instead, he was driven to the White House.

The Washington Post

He was driven to a police station.

The Washington Post

He was driven to a psychiatric hospital.

The Washington Post

Patrick feels he was driven to this.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the source of motivation, follow "he is driven to" with a verb that clearly illustrates the purpose or goal. For example, "He is driven to excel", or "He is driven to create change".

Common error

While effective, overuse of "he is driven to" can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternative phrases like "he is motivated by", "he is determined to", or "he feels compelled to" for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is driven to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a strong motivation or compulsion to perform a certain action. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is used to describe someone's internal drive or strong urge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Books

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Arts

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he is driven to" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey strong motivation or compulsion. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in news and media sources, often to explain characters' actions or decisions. While versatile, it’s important to avoid overuse and consider alternatives like "he is compelled to" or "he is motivated by" to maintain stylistic variety. The phrase serves to highlight the powerful internal or external forces influencing someone's behavior, and its meaning is generally well-understood across different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he is compelled to

Emphasizes obligation or necessity, suggesting less personal volition than the original phrase.

he is motivated to

Highlights the presence of a motive or incentive, focusing on internal desire rather than external pressure.

he feels obliged to

Focuses on a sense of duty or moral imperative driving the action.

he is determined to

Stresses a firm decision and resolve to achieve something.

he is impelled to

Suggests a strong, often irresistible, inner urge or force.

he has a strong urge to

Emphasizes the emotional component of the motivation.

he finds himself needing to

Highlights the sense of requirement or dependency that drives action.

he can't help but

Expresses an inability to resist the urge or action.

he is forced to

Indicates external coercion or unavoidable circumstances.

he is under pressure to

Highlights the influence of external demands or expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "he is driven to" in a sentence?

Use "he is driven to" to indicate a strong motivation or compelling reason behind someone's actions. For instance, "He is driven to succeed despite facing numerous obstacles".

What are some alternatives to "he is driven to"?

You can use alternatives like "he is compelled to", "he is motivated to", or "he is determined to" depending on the specific context.

Is "he is driven to" formal or informal?

"He is driven to" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's often seen in journalistic or literary writing to describe a character's strong motivations.

What's the difference between "he is driven to" and "he is forced to"?

"He is driven to" implies an internal motivation or strong desire, while "he is forced to" suggests external pressure or coercion. The former comes from within, the latter from outside influences.