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
Yaron Steinbuch… will start enforcing a requirement for commercial truck drivers travelling between provinces to track their hours behind the wheel …—Karina Zapata
Karina ZapataExamples of behind the wheel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s no one behind the wheel, so who is penalized for the error?
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
The suspect behind the wheel was known to deputies as a wanted felon, according to the release.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025
After further investigation, Elk Grove police identified the owner as the one behind the wheel when Chan was fatally struck.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Video shows the thief behind the wheel of the shuttle bus.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behind the wheel
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Christopher Cann, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
The suspect behind the wheel was known to deputies as a wanted felon, according to the release.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025
After further investigation, Elk Grove police identified the owner as the one behind the wheel when Chan was fatally struck.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Video shows the thief behind the wheel of the shuttle bus.
—Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 1 Dec. 2025.
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