behind the wheel

idiomatic phrase

: in the act of driving
I was nervous my first time behind the wheel.
He urged drivers to stop and rest if they feel tired behind the wheel.Yaron Steinbuch
… will start enforcing a requirement for commercial truck drivers travelling between provinces to track their hours behind the wheelKarina Zapata

Examples of behind the wheel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ronald Harrison, a driver for the nightclub, was behind the wheel; Mansfield and her attorney, Samuel Brody, were also in the front seat. Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 9 June 2024 Kids can climb behind the wheel to touch, honk and explore big rigs like tractors, dump trucks, ambulances, fire trucks and police cruisers. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 2 June 2024 Corey Harris, 44, joined the Zoom hearing while visibly behind the wheel of a moving car. Melissa Noel, Essence, 30 May 2024 Video from the hearing shows the moment when Harris joined the hearing, visibly behind the wheel of a car in motion. Eric Henderson, CBS News, 29 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for behind the wheel 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of behind the wheel was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near behind the wheel

Cite this Entry

“Behind the wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20wheel. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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