drive-in

noun

: an establishment (such as a theater or restaurant) so laid out that patrons can be accommodated while remaining in their automobiles
drive-in adjective

Examples of drive-in 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.
This year, our favorite Southern drive-in chain, SONIC, swapped pumpkin spice everything for a Salted Caramel Toffee Collection. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025 In 1971, Mitchum had a cameo in Monte Hellman’s drive-in classic Two-Lane Blacktop starring James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, and that Mitchum was among the friends of Dennis Hopper (including Peter Fonda and Kris Kristoffrson) invited to Peru to film The Last Movie, a notorious flop. Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025 Not yet bested today, the most exquisite zombie movie ever created demanded to be seen by more audiences, and using late-night slots at drive-in theaters and rep cinemas as a cheap way to build out its reputation was brilliant. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025 The installation recalls a barricade, a prison yard, a drive-in, and a construction site, all in one immersive and unsettling package. Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drive-in

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drive-in was in 1931

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Cite this Entry

“Drive-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drive-in. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

drive-in

noun
ˈdrī-ˌvin
: a business (as a movie theater or restaurant) set up so that customers can be served or provided for while remaining in their automobiles
drive-in adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on drive-in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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