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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Smith, sitting behind the wheel between Williams and Martin, was hit in the head by one of Williams’ shots. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2025 Rounding out the roster was the two-car Alan Mann Racing effort of Sir John Whitmore, with Frank Gardner and Graham Hill taking turns behind the wheel with Brian Muir. Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 2 June 2025 But his time behind the wheel has never been the full story. Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 According to Musk, the company has been testing its self-driving Model Ys on the streets of Austin, with no driver behind the wheel. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for behind the wheel

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Behind the wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20wheel. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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