behind the wheel

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 wheel …—Karina 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.
For anyone who spends considerable time behind the wheel, these small improvements can make the vehicle feel more functional and pleasant to use. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 Nobody was behind the wheel during these stunts — nobody with a pulse, anyway. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Thursday morning, the Independence Police Department released the name of the victim in a fatal Sunday collision with a patrol vehicle, along with the identity of the officer behind the wheel. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 In a now-viral clip shared by the account Teslaconomics on X-formerly-Twitter, a Tesla driver presents the point of view from behind the wheel of what appears to be a Cybertruck. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026 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

Rhymes for behind the wheel

See All Rhymes for behind the wheel

Browse Nearby Words

behind the times
behind the wheel
behite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Behind the wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20wheel. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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