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

At its most benign, it represents a suburban, middle-class woman in an SUV peeling out of the McDonald’s drive-through after a late practice.

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She demonstrates “rev matching” in her Honda Civic Type R while offering tips on how to navigate a drive-through without stalling.

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Every shop that serves a beverage these days could be viewed as a competitor, Grams said, but Starbucks is unique in that it offers three different ways to get a drink: drive-through, cafe and mobile ordering.

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While at a San Antonio, cafe last month, baristas were greeting customers while keeping up with a busy drive-through, he said.

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The restaurant includes one drive-through lane, indoor seating for 73 guests and a covered patio with outdoor seating for 28 guests, according to the statement.

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