drive-through

[ 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

McLaren's Button was 21st and last with 30 laps to go, after two collisions and a drive-through penalty, but he fought his way through the field thanks to choosing the right time to change to intermediate tyres and then dry-weather slicks.

From BBC

The burger chain turned to Miso after realizing workers assigned to the drive-through and fry station had to juggle multiple responsibilities and orders.

From Los Angeles Times

According to The Washington Post, Trump manned the fry station for about five minutes and spent about 15 minutes at the drive-through window, where he answered questions from reporters.

From Salon

Earlier in the day, Trump visited a McDonald's in Feasterville-Trevose, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he learned to make fries, dunking the wire basket in sizzling oil, and serving meals at a drive-through window.

From BBC

The chain’s second location opened a few months after the first in Monrovia, followed by its flagship drive-through at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue and a fourth restaurant in University Park.

From Los Angeles Times