Meaning & use

right-hand drive

adjective, noun·EverydayBritish

Last updated

UK/ˌraɪt hænd ˈdraɪv/
US/ˌraɪt hænd ˈdraɪv/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounBritish

    Having the steering wheel on the right side of the car, so the driver sits on the right.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a right-hand drive car. It is not usually used after a verb.

    Patterns

    • a right-hand drive car
    • right-hand drive vehicle
    • right-hand drive model

    She bought a right-hand drive car because she lives in London.

    In Japan, most new cars are right-hand drive.

    The rental company only had right-hand drive vans available.

  2. nouncountableBritish

    A car or other vehicle with the steering wheel on the right side.

    Grammar: Countable: a right-hand drive, two right-hand drives. Often written as RHD.

    Patterns

    • drive a right-hand drive
    • convert to right-hand drive
    • right-hand drive is common in

    He learned to drive in a right-hand drive.

    Right-hand drive is standard in Australia.

    The old taxi was a right-hand drive with a spacious back seat.

Word forms

pluralright-hand drives

Common combinations

right-hand drive car
A right-hand drive car can feel strange if you are used to driving on the left.
right-hand drive vehicle
The law requires a right-hand drive vehicle for this type of license.
right-hand drive model
This right-hand drive model is popular in the UK.
convert to right-hand drive
It is expensive to convert a left-hand drive car to right-hand drive.

Synonyms and how they differ

RHD
The abbreviation is very common in ads and technical writing.

Opposites

left-hand drive

Word family

left-hand drive adjective
Having the steering wheel on the left side.
drive verb
To operate a car or other vehicle.

Commonly confused: right-hand drive or left-hand drive?

right-hand drive vs left-hand drive

Left-hand drive means the steering wheel is on the left, common in the US and Europe. Right-hand drive means it is on the right, common in the UK and Japan.

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