drive off

phrasal verb

drove off; driven off; driving off; drives off

: to cause or force (someone or something) to leave

They drove off the invaders.

waved her hands to drive the flies off

Examples of drive off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The vehicle drove off the right side of the road, struck a concrete drainage culvert, and overturned, according to a Kansas City Police Department news release. —

Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024 The truck drove off the main highway, onto dirt roads, and stopped near a dilapidated shack. —

Beth Warren, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024 After the shooting, one suspect drove off in Fleurs’ car followed by an accomplice. —

Sammy Mncwabe, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024 Vadim Vorobyov, a 52-year-old Springfield resident, is accused of getting in the car and driving off with the boy around 8:40 a.m. in Chicopee on March 29, according to a Massachusetts State Police news release. —

Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024 Then, Smith stole Hare’s patrol car and drove off with him inside, according to prosecutors. —

Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024 The pair later got into the car and drove off, with the box still on the vehicle's roof. —

Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024 Officers headed to the business and saw a minivan driving off, and began a pursuit, Guerin said. —

Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024 That night, Sisco watched Dominguez climb behind the wheel of the van and the couple drive off with the trailer behind them. —

Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drive off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.