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to drive up

to drive up

39 3.9
To make prices rise to a higher level, often quickly
  • phrasal verb
  • /draɪv ʌp/
translation icon : aumentar
  • Increased demand for technology has driven up the prices of the latest smartphones.
  • drive up prices
  • drive up costs
  • drive up food prices

These are all things that could drive up inflation expectations.

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Examples

  • Healthcare has already been criticized for being too expensive, and this would only drive up the costs (Voelker 2001).

    Academic text (2003)
  • Radical Islamists would see the U.S. departure as a victory, and the ensuing chaos would drive up oil prices.

    Academic text (2005)
  • I bought, like, 10 of these, trying to drive the price up.

  • These are all things that could drive up inflation expectations.

  • Savings in public assistance will drive up public costs in other areas such as health care.

    Academic text (1996)
  • There is not an excess demand for savings that is going to drive up interest rates.

    Blog text (8)
  • Why didn't all that buying drive up the price?

  • If people buy bonds, then that drives up the price of bonds.

  • Speculation further drove up food prices, as did a drought through most of North Georgia during the war years.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Environmental, political, and economic forces are all driving up food prices, including climate change and pressure from the biofuels lobbies.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

to raise
vsto drive up
2.9

To make an amount, level, or value higher

differs by stressing a sudden jump rather than a general rise
to rise
vsto drive up
904 1.0

To become greater in amount or strength

is about causing sudden higher levels rather than general rising
to go up
vsto drive up
454 1.5

To become higher in price or amount

is specifically used for causing sudden higher prices or values
to escalate
vsto drive up
220 5.5

To become larger, more serious, or more intense

contrasts by involving sudden increases rather than gradual growth
to climb
vsto drive up
146 2.2

Rise to a higher level, for example prices or numbers

is about causing sudden increases rather than steady climbs
to jump
vsto drive up
144 2.1

To rise suddenly by a large amount

is used when someone causes sudden rises in prices or quantities
to soar
vsto drive up
96 3.4

To rise quickly to a very high level, for example prices or temperatures

is about causing sudden increases rather than just rising
to step up
vsto drive up
74 3.4

Make something greater in amount, speed or strength

is used mainly for causing sudden rises in value or prices
to ramp
vsto drive up
57 4.5

To increase something gradually in stages

contrasts by being gradual rather than causing sudden rises
to skyrocket
vsto drive up
52 4.1

To rise very quickly to a high level

is used for causing sharp increases often to higher values
to ramp up
vsto drive up
47 4.1

To increase something, especially its amount or speed

is used when causing sudden rises especially in prices or values
to crank up
vsto drive up
  • Informal
39 3.8

To increase the level or strength of something, for example volume, production

differs by targeting value increases rather than machine intensity
to inflate
vsto drive up
30 4.4

To make the amount or price of something increase

is used for causing sudden rises rather than general increase
to pump up
vsto drive up
  • Informal
28 4.1

Make someone feel excited and full of energy

differs by targeting price or value increases rather than mood
to hike
vsto drive up
25 3.6

To raise a price or fee suddenly by a large amount

is used when causing sudden higher levels especially in values
to shoot up
vsto drive up
25 4.1

Rise quickly to a much higher level

is used for causing sudden higher levels often in prices
to bump up
vsto drive up
23 3.4

To raise prices or amounts by a lot

is used for causing sudden higher levels often in prices
to ratchet up
vsto drive up
18 6.7

To increase something slowly until it becomes hard to reduce

is about causing sudden rises rather than slow escalation
to jack up
vsto drive up
  • Informal
12 5.9

To raise prices or rent suddenly by a lot

is used for causing sudden rises generally in values
to rocket
vsto drive up
11 4.1

To increase very quickly

is focused on causing sudden increases rather than passive rises
to up
vsto drive up
9 1.3

Make an amount or level higher

is specifically used for causing sudden higher prices or values
to hike up
vsto drive up
3 4.8

Raise prices or fees suddenly by a large amount

is about causing sudden rises often in prices or values
to edge up
vsto drive up
2 4.5

Rise slowly by a small amount, often for prices or temperatures

contrasts by causing sudden or larger increases rather than slight rises
to rocket up
vsto drive up
2 4.4

Increase very quickly to a much higher level

is used for causing sudden higher levels in prices or values
to rev up
vsto drive up
  • Informal
1 4.6

To make something faster or more active

differs by referring to causing sudden rises in prices or values
to soar up
vsto drive up
1 3.8

Rise very quickly to a much higher level

is used to describe causing sudden high increases in value
to hike up the prices
vsto drive up
1 4.8

To raise prices by a large amount, often suddenly

is used to cause sudden increases not only limited to prices
to crank up to eleven
vsto drive up
  • Slang
8.6

To increase something to its highest or most extreme level

is focused on causing sudden higher levels rather than extremes
to soar upwards
vsto drive up
3.4

Rise quickly to a much higher level, for example prices or temperatures

is used when someone causes sudden increases in prices or values

Antonyms

802 1.0

Make something go down in position, amount, or strength

325 2.0

To make something smaller in amount or size

How High

to skyrocket
52 4.1
to surge
41 3.7
to drive up
39 3.9
to raise
2.9
to increase
1.0

Surface Forms

drive up infinitive
drove up past
driven up past participle
driving up present participle
drives up third person singular

Morphology

drive + up

The meaning 'to increase' is partly recoverable from 'drive' (as 'force/cause') combined with 'up' (indicating upward/increase), so there is a compositional motivation. However, the causative/metaphorical extension of 'drive' from controlling a vehicle to causing values or prices to rise may not be immediately obvious to a B1 learner without exposure, making the relation only partially transparent.

Etymology

The phrasal verb drive up comes from the image of the parts drive and up: someone driving a price or number higher, like a seller pushing a cost above its old level. That's why it means 'to increase' or 'to make something rise'.