four-wheel drive
noun
: an automotive drive mechanism that acts on all four wheels of the vehicle
also
: a vehicle equipped with such a drive
Examples of four-wheel drive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The car also offers both two- and four-wheel drive, plus regenerative braking.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2023
The Wagoneer's Quadra-Trac full-time four-wheel drive is a large contributor to these feelings of civilized sophistication.
—David E. Davis Jr., Car and Driver, 18 Mar. 2023
The two men, along with Corduroy, Ryan’s chocolate lab, climbed into Ryan’s four-wheel drive.
—Thallman, oregonlive, 18 Mar. 2023
Many roads to scenic spots are dirt, not blacktop, and best handled by vehicles with four-wheel drive and high clearance.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023
Because the body was in a flood area, deputies from the Imperial Beach sheriff’s station, Border Patrol agents and Imperial Beach lifeguards worked together and used four-wheel drive vehicles and heavy equipment to retrieve the body, Vega said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2023
Determined visitors with a four-wheel drive can take in the historic view on single-lane Forest Service roads from either Beaverhead Rock State Park in Montana or the Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho.
—Sarah Rose, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2023
But, with that locking center diff, Hyundai and Kia crossovers can operate in true four-wheel drive in some conditions.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 16 Feb. 2023
When the weather is wet—something that happens on the regular—you’ll need four-wheel drive to navigate the terrain.
—Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 6 Feb. 2023
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2023
The Wagoneer's Quadra-Trac full-time four-wheel drive is a large contributor to these feelings of civilized sophistication.
—David E. Davis Jr., Car and Driver, 18 Mar. 2023
The two men, along with Corduroy, Ryan’s chocolate lab, climbed into Ryan’s four-wheel drive.
—Thallman, oregonlive, 18 Mar. 2023
Many roads to scenic spots are dirt, not blacktop, and best handled by vehicles with four-wheel drive and high clearance.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023
Because the body was in a flood area, deputies from the Imperial Beach sheriff’s station, Border Patrol agents and Imperial Beach lifeguards worked together and used four-wheel drive vehicles and heavy equipment to retrieve the body, Vega said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2023
Determined visitors with a four-wheel drive can take in the historic view on single-lane Forest Service roads from either Beaverhead Rock State Park in Montana or the Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho.
—Sarah Rose, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2023
But, with that locking center diff, Hyundai and Kia crossovers can operate in true four-wheel drive in some conditions.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 16 Feb. 2023
When the weather is wet—something that happens on the regular—you’ll need four-wheel drive to navigate the terrain.
—Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 6 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'four-wheel drive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near four-wheel drive
Cite this Entry
“Four-wheel drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/four-wheel%20drive. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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