in the driver's seat

idiom

: in a position in which one is able to control what happens
When his boss went on vacation, he suddenly found himself in the driver's seat.

Examples of in the driver's seat 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.
Given both are in the top 10 of the CFP rankings, the winner will be in the driver's seat for the automatic berth while the loser can lose control of their destiny. Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025 Paul denied being the driver and claimed Connor was the one in the driver's seat, but this allegation was proven false during the investigation, per Law & Crime. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 Team Europe is in the driver's seat entering Sunday singles at the 45th Ryder Cup. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025 Sheriff's deputies found an unresponsive man in the driver's seat of a gray Nissan Sentra on Calle Bella Vista. Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for in the driver's seat

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the driver's seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20driver%27s%20seat. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!