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.
Now Amazon is fully behind the wheel of the Astin Martin after closing a deal for creative control earlier this month. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025 Still, he was not allowed to drive for a week to avoid the possibility of passing out or falling over while behind the wheel. Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025 Tesla's Full Self-Driving mode, which currently requires human supervision and cannot operate without a driver behind the wheel, is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 Last year, Wood Brothers Racing qualified for the playoffs with Harrison Burton behind the wheel. Joseph Wolkin, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Behind the wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20wheel. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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