drive-through

Informal, drive-thru

[drahyv-throo]

noun

1. the act of driving through a specified locality or place, especially driving into a place of business, completing a transaction from one's car, and driving out.

   a quick drive-through of Beverly Hills;

   The bank has outside tellers' windows to accept deposits by drive-through.

adjective

1. designed to accommodate or arranged for a drive-through.

   This gas station has a drive-through car wash.

Word History and Origins

Origin of drive-through¹

First recorded in 1970–75; noun and adjectival use of verb phrase drive through

Example Sentences

Chains need LTOs to keep their drive-through menu boards and apps popping with new items to keep customers coming back.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Detectives circulated his car number plate and he was spotted at a drive-through KFC and arrested at the wheel of his Tesla, initially on suspicion of kidnap.

Read more on BBC

Eva Dixon has seen the notices at a Burger King drive-through in Cranberry Township, Pa., and a local CVS.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Dutch Bros now has about 1,000 drive-through shops mostly in the West and South, with a long-term goal of more than quadrupling that as it expands around the country.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Drive-through lines sometimes snake around parking lots, testing its balance between service and speed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal