Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

drive-through

/ˈdɹaɪvˌθɹu/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.06 in modern English

Syllables: drive-through
IPA: /ˈdɹaɪvˌθɹu/

23

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of an establishment, providing service to occupants of automobiles while they are in their still-running vehicle, especially when the vehicle does not park in a parking space and the goods received are not consumed until the vehicle vacates the lane.

adj

Of a feature of such an establishment (especially a window), adapted to provide such service.

noun

An establishment, especially a restaurant, providing drive-through service.

noun

The window of such an establishment adapted for such purpose.

Example Sentences

"I switched banks so that I could use a drive-through branch near my home."
"The restaurant’s drive-through window had a turntable of bulletproof glass designed to allow transactions while preventing robberies."
"Since I was pressed for time, I picked up burgers at a drive-through on the way home."
"“Please pull forward and pay at the drive-through,” said the attendant upon taking my order."

Etymology

Deverbal from drive through.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈdɹaɪvˌθɹu/

Inflected Forms

drive through (alternative) drivethrough (alternative, rare) drive-thru (alternative, Philippines) drive thru (alternative) drivethru (alternative) drive-throughs (plural)

Phrases

ski-through curb service drive-by

Frequently Paired Words

drive-in curb service drive-by

Questions

How do you pronounce drive-through?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɹaɪvˌθɹu/.
What does drive-through mean?: Of an establishment, providing service to occupants of automobiles while they are in their still-running vehicle, especially when the vehicle does not park in a parking space and the goods received are not consumed until the vehicle vacates the lane.
Where does drive-through come from?: Deverbal from drive through.

How to pronounce drive-through

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “drive-through”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdɹaɪvˌθɹu/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “drive-through”.
Repeat and practice — Say “drive-through” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.