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.
Illinois has laws outlawing cellphone usage and texting while behind the wheel of one’s vehicle. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 Three weeks ago, a car went into the Schuylkill River when the man behind the wheel was having an emergency. — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 31 July 2026 Some of their most meaningful memories have happened behind the wheel. — Lori Majewski, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 Salgado Araujo was behind the wheel of the van the morning of July 7 when ICE said he was shot while attempting to evade arrest during a traffic stop. — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 30 July 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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