drive-in
Americannoun
adjective
adjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of drive-in
An Americanism first recorded in 1925–30; noun, adjective use of verb phrase drive in
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While Mr. Fryer was bagging produce as a teenager at Albertsons, I was slinging barbecue sandwiches over a steam table at our local drive-in to help cover my upcoming college expenses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
There’s a vintage Disneyland ticket book, a Rubik’s Cube and an old aluminum speaker from a drive-in theater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026
And drive-in chain Sonic has encouraged customers to “make it dirty” by ordering creamer and mix-ins with their sodas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
They invested $500,000 to open a brand new drive-in in Louisiana and it is scheduled to open this autumn.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025
A drive-in sits in the center of a huge clearing, the surrounding trees blocking out the town’s bustling sounds and creating the illusion that we’re far away.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
