variants
or less commonly drive-thru
: a drive-through establishment (such as a restaurant or bank)
also
: the drive-through window at such an establishment
Examples of drive-through in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
Wendy's was the first to make widespread use of drive-through windows in the 1970s.
—
Bob Vitale,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
After McDonald’s announced plans to open a restaurant in Mattituck, the town passed an ordinance banning drive-throughs; when CVS arrived, the locals capped the size of big-box stores.
—
Reeves Wiedeman,
Curbed,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for drive-through
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.
Adjective
Because the challenge centers on sitting down and enjoying a meal together at the restaurant, drive-through and mobile order customers would not be eligible based on the promotion’s description.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
Wendy's was the first to make widespread use of drive-through windows in the 1970s.
—
Bob Vitale,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
UVeye was founded in 2016 by Israeli brothers Amir and Ohad Hever, using its drive-through inspection technology at international borders to check vehicles for contraband, but soon expanded to more commercial uses.
—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
After McDonald’s announced plans to open a restaurant in Mattituck, the town passed an ordinance banning drive-throughs; when CVS arrived, the locals capped the size of big-box stores.
—
Reeves Wiedeman,
Curbed,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for drive-through
Cite this Entry
“Drive-through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drive-through. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
