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Synonyms

driver's seat

American  

noun

  1. the seat from which a vehicle is operated.

  2. a position of power, dominance, control, or superiority.

    After the election the Democrats were back in the driver's seat.

Etymology

Origin of driver's seat

First recorded in 1920–25

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.

With AI back in the driver’s seat, these pitfalls may come back into focus too.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Win those two, and the Kings are back in the driver’s seat.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

For months, Netflix has been in the driver’s seat of an industry-shaking effort to acquire Warner Bros.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

The sight of me hopping down from the driver’s seat has real Greg Bovino energy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

“I consulted with your previous counselor, Mr. Kinkade,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

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.