behind the wheel

idiomatic phrase

: in the act of driving
I was nervous my first time behind the wheel.
He urged drivers to stop and rest if they feel tired behind the wheel.Yaron Steinbuch
… will start enforcing a requirement for commercial truck drivers travelling between provinces to track their hours behind the wheelKarina Zapata

Examples of behind the wheel 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.
Needless to say, the best way to maintain affordable auto insurance premiums is to stay sober and follow the rules of the road at all times behind the wheel. Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 In that tragedy, an unlicensed 16-year-old boy was behind the wheel and either fell asleep or became distracted, according to investigators. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 16 Dec. 2024 The shock grew when Hoskins later died of her injuries and police revealed that her husband, former Olympian and world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis, was behind the wheel. Emily Blackwood, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024 Driven by Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller was behind the wheel of the high-performance muscle car when the record was set on August 7. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for behind the wheel 

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of behind the wheel was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near behind the wheel

Cite this Entry

“Behind the wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20wheel. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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