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.
The most dangerous part on a car is the nut behind the wheel, goes an old joke, and Smith said that people should be more afraid of human drivers than robot ones. Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 One in three drivers is behind the wheel without enough car insurance, a figure that's been climbing since the pandemic. Liz Knueven, CNBC, 30 June 2025 The film often features Idris and Pitt behind the wheel, showcasing their driving skills in intense race sequences. Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 26 June 2025 As big a star as Pitt is, with his Oscar from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, how would it be made believable that his 60-year-old butt should be behind the wheel in a Formula One championship race? Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 25 June 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 9 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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