driver's seat
Americannoun
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the seat from which a vehicle is operated.
-
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.
That’s a sign bond yields are now in the driver’s seat.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
It takes five hours, but finally synchronised cries of excitement come from the driver's seat and the back of the pick-up truck.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Hey everyone, I’m Genna Contino and I’m officially taking the driver’s seat at Don’t Short Yourself as lead writer, where I’ll be delivering smart, actionable tips to your inbox.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
But my generation also understands AI should only ever be the grease on the wheels, never the one in the driver’s seat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Just returns to the cab, draws all the window shades, slides into the driver’s seat, and reclines it to the limit.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
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.
