drive-by

American  

[drahyv-bahy] / ˈdraɪvˌbaɪ /

noun

plural

drive-bys

1. the action of driving by a specified locality, object, etc..

   a drive-by of Nelson's Monument.

2. a drive-by shooting.

   The gang member was killed in a drive-by.

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adjective

1. consisting of or featuring a drive-by.

   We boarded the sightseeing bus for a drive-by tour of the nation's capital.

2. occurring while driving past a person, object, etc..

   a drive-by shooting.

3. casual; superficial; offhand.

   a drive-by news analysis.

4. involving a brief stay in a hospital, clinic, etc..

   a drive-by mastectomy.

Etymology

Origin of drive-by

Noun, adj. use of verb phrase drive by

Example Sentences

Tightening noise-emission standards in Europe and Asia have obliged Ferrari to lower the drive-by volume of its cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

This is not a drive-by charity; we’re here for the long haul.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

The motorists, who say their cars have been badly damaged by reported potholes, sounded their horns on a slow drive-by on Saturday afternoon.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2024

Strains of its speed-laced melody violated my peace by wafting into my apartment like a garbage truck’s drive-by stink.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2023

“Oh, Queenie!' cried Mabelee. Cressie noticed Rosaleen and me sitting there in the dark and said, “The funeral home in town has a drive-by window.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd