in the driver's seat

phrase

: 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.

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 6 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster