drive-through

American  

[drahyv-throo] / ˈdraɪvˌθru /

Informal, drive-thru

noun

• drive-throughs
  plural

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.

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adjective

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

   This gas station has a drive-through car wash.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• drive-throughs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of drive-through

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drive-through drive-throughs

Outdated restaurants and underinvestment have hurt the chain’s drive-through service, according to experts.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026

Starbucks now delivers most U.S. in-store and drive-through orders within four minutes, a key goal of Chief Executive Brian Niccol.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

They rejected his argument, and when the race restarted, Russell came in again to serve the drive-through penalty, which is what dropped him out of third place.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Investors are paying up for what Dutch Bros might become: a national drive-through beverage chain with a loyal younger customer base and a long runway for new shops.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Weekends usually meant a trip to the McDonald’s drive-through window after ballet and before soccer.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

And he said the chain’s drive-throughs needed to get better at handling demand during the busiest hours — noting that by focusing too much on cost savings, the company had hurt its competitive standing.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026

With mobile ordering and drive-throughs, it’s easier than ever to skip the stores.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026

At drive-throughs, Starbucks is testing a system to process orders and free up staff to focus on hospitality or making the coffees.

From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026

The brand leans heavily on drive-throughs and a high-energy, community-driven brand that resonates with younger consumers.

From Barron's ● Dec. 31, 2025

“Because what’s the point, when I live in an era of fast food drive-throughs and instant noodle cups?”

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day