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Synonyms

steering wheel

American  

noun

  1. a wheel used by a driver, pilot, or the like, to steer an automobile, ship, etc.

steering wheel British  

noun

  1. a wheel turned by the driver of a motor vehicle, ship, etc, when he wishes to change direction. It is connected to the front wheels, rudder, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of steering wheel

First recorded in 1740–50

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.

The light green Apollo Go logo was visible on the steering wheel.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

BlueCruise, introduced in 2021, promises to keep a car in its lane, manage speed and slow down when approaching another vehicle, all without a driver’s hands on the steering wheel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Zoox robotaxis have no gas pedal, steering wheel or other driver controls, and passengers sit facing each other inside the cabin.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Television footage before his retirement showed Alonso taking his hands off the steering wheel on the straight and shaking them to alleviate the impact.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

Back in the truck, Nali sat behind the steering wheel without turning on the truck.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

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.