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.
Last year, after his first couple of weeks behind the wheel, Seacrest, 50, opened up to PEOPLE about how White helped make his transition to co-host as seamless as possible. Bailey Richards, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025 But Tesla has not yet obtained permits in California for deployment of driverless vehicles there, and the company has not yet sold vehicles that are deemed safe to use without a person behind the wheel. Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 The law prohibits drivers from touching their phones while behind the wheel, including when at a stoplight or in traffic. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, Staten's search for the truth about his son Randall's death culminates in the revelation that Sheriff Dan Brigman's wife Margaret was behind the wheel during the fatal accident — not town outcast Kit, who was initially blamed. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 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 12 May. 2025.

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