drive-thru

British  

noun

1. 1. a takeaway restaurant, bank, etc designed so that customers can use it without leaving their cars

   2. ( as modifier )

      a drive-thru restaurant

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Example Sentences

If you ordered Taco Bell at a drive-thru the day a loved one died, unfortunately, that might ruin Taco Bell for you forever.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

A $1 increase in gas prices can lead to around six fewer drive-thru customers a day, a recent analysis found.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The National Restaurant Association’s 2025 survey also found that a majority of consumers would take advantage of off-premise dining options, including delivery, takeout and drive-thru ordering, more often if they could better afford it.

From Salon • Mar. 3, 2026

Starbucks plans to open roughly 400 net new U.S. stores annually, relying more heavily on lower-cost designs and smaller formats that support drive-thru, mobile order, and pickup.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Between drive-thru orders, he runs over to help me assemble trays of food, but still the line is consistently ten deep.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy