plural pedals
1
a
: a lever pressed by the foot in the playing of a musical instrument (such as an organ or piano)
b
: an electronic device that is usually pressed by the foot and that alters or loops the sound of an amplified voice or musical instrument
a guitar pedal
an effects pedal
a wah-wah pedal
2
: a foot lever or treadle by which a part is activated in a mechanism
a bike's pedals
ped·al
pedaled also pedalled; pedaling also pedalling
ˈpe-dᵊl-iŋ 
ˈped-liŋ
: to work the pedals of
Examples of pedal in a Sentence
Verb
He was pedaling as fast as he could.
He pedaled down to the store.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
Photo : Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School
Drag racing may seem easy: point the car in a straight line and mash the gas pedal.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Browse your way through the shops of Mallory Square and Duval Street, and then rent a few bikes for a leisurely pedal through town.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024
During the central crisis of Beethoven’s Funeral March, hammering octaves in the bass register, again with the pedal held down, unleash a dissonant boom that is in some ways more unnerving than the corresponding passage in orchestral form.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Related article Oregon leaders declare 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland to address fentanyl crisis
The officer, his feet on the pedals, braked hard into a turn.
—Josh Campbell, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024
The addition of pedals made steel guitar a country music staple, while blues and jazz musicians adopted the slide guitar, which utilized a similar gliding technique while holding the guitar upright.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The seats are comfortable but non-adjustable, the pedal box moves to accommodate most drivers.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
The group’s set at the adorably intimate Regas Square blew me away—particularly their ping-ponging vocals and colorful approach to time signatures and effects pedals.
—Ryan Reed, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
With an unobtrusive whir, the A100 motor engaged and my speed in the flat went from about 11 miles an hour to 18 with about the same pedal effort.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
The Elite model has a hotel-style key card and a sport mode that tweaks steering, pedal response and ambient lighting.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024
The bike delivers three modes of transport: manual pedal mode, three-stage pedal-assist mode (with speeds that top at 10, 15, and 20 miles per hour), and throttle mode, which delivers a boost of speed for six to eight seconds.
—Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024
In most states, with few exceptions, people riding a pedal bike or an e-bike are held to the same rules of the road as other vehicles including trucks and cars and other things.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Fender Shields Blender Despite being a staple for both guitars and amps, Fender isn’t exactly known for having amazing pedal offerings.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 1 Feb. 2024
Turtle Beach has unveiled its first wheel and pedal system designed for racing simulators, following the company’s debut into gaming simulation hardware with the VelocityOne Flight in 2021.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2024
For example, pedal 27 miles north from Bentonville to Seligman, just across the state line in Missouri.
—Cindy Hirschfeld, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023
Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
There’s an expression in cycling when the peloton splits and the lead group starts pedaling away while the other half furiously chases, that the rubber band stretches and stretches and stretches.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Most e-bikes also work in full manual mode, though given that these bikes are almost always heavier than a regular bike, expect to expel more energy and effort to pedal unassisted.
—Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024
Or base across Lake Worth in downtown West Palm Beach instead at The Ben, a boutique hotel within walking distance to Las Olas Avenue’s shops and restaurants (use the complimentary house bikes to pedal across the bridge to hot Palm Beach restaurants like Henry’s Palm Beach and Sant Ambroeus).
—Terry Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2024
Slowly go through a bicycle pedaling motion, bringing one knee toward the opposite elbow by rotating your torso, then repeating on the other side.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Lapham Lodge will including practical amenities, and more The lodge, to be built along the east end of the Evergreen parking lot, obviously is intended for trail users of various kinds — people who slide over skis in winter, pedal through the park in summer or hike regardless of the season.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024
Start in Split or Dubrovnik and pedal your way through the old cities, then hop over to Hvar, Brač, or Korčula.
—Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2024
The aim is to create a corridor where people don’t want to drive their cars, instead opting to stroll or pedal through.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
This round trash can features a soft-closing lid, which can be lifted or closed with a pedal.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2024
Photo : Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School
Drag racing may seem easy: point the car in a straight line and mash the gas pedal.
—Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Browse your way through the shops of Mallory Square and Duval Street, and then rent a few bikes for a leisurely pedal through town.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024
During the central crisis of Beethoven’s Funeral March, hammering octaves in the bass register, again with the pedal held down, unleash a dissonant boom that is in some ways more unnerving than the corresponding passage in orchestral form.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Related article Oregon leaders declare 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland to address fentanyl crisis
The officer, his feet on the pedals, braked hard into a turn.
—Josh Campbell, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024
The addition of pedals made steel guitar a country music staple, while blues and jazz musicians adopted the slide guitar, which utilized a similar gliding technique while holding the guitar upright.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The seats are comfortable but non-adjustable, the pedal box moves to accommodate most drivers.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
The group’s set at the adorably intimate Regas Square blew me away—particularly their ping-ponging vocals and colorful approach to time signatures and effects pedals.
—Ryan Reed, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The owner believes his interest in Jeeps goes back to his childhood when his grandfather gave him a toy Jeep pedal car.
—David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
With an unobtrusive whir, the A100 motor engaged and my speed in the flat went from about 11 miles an hour to 18 with about the same pedal effort.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
The Elite model has a hotel-style key card and a sport mode that tweaks steering, pedal response and ambient lighting.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024
The bike delivers three modes of transport: manual pedal mode, three-stage pedal-assist mode (with speeds that top at 10, 15, and 20 miles per hour), and throttle mode, which delivers a boost of speed for six to eight seconds.
—Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024
In most states, with few exceptions, people riding a pedal bike or an e-bike are held to the same rules of the road as other vehicles including trucks and cars and other things.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Fender Shields Blender Despite being a staple for both guitars and amps, Fender isn’t exactly known for having amazing pedal offerings.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 1 Feb. 2024
Turtle Beach has unveiled its first wheel and pedal system designed for racing simulators, following the company’s debut into gaming simulation hardware with the VelocityOne Flight in 2021.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2024
For example, pedal 27 miles north from Bentonville to Seligman, just across the state line in Missouri.
—Cindy Hirschfeld, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023
Verb
There are many kayaks designed specifically for fishing, from paddle options to pedal options to motor options.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 3 Apr. 2024
There’s an expression in cycling when the peloton splits and the lead group starts pedaling away while the other half furiously chases, that the rubber band stretches and stretches and stretches.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Most e-bikes also work in full manual mode, though given that these bikes are almost always heavier than a regular bike, expect to expel more energy and effort to pedal unassisted.
—Nathan Borchelt, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024
Or base across Lake Worth in downtown West Palm Beach instead at The Ben, a boutique hotel within walking distance to Las Olas Avenue’s shops and restaurants (use the complimentary house bikes to pedal across the bridge to hot Palm Beach restaurants like Henry’s Palm Beach and Sant Ambroeus).
—Terry Ward, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2024
Slowly go through a bicycle pedaling motion, bringing one knee toward the opposite elbow by rotating your torso, then repeating on the other side.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Lapham Lodge will including practical amenities, and more The lodge, to be built along the east end of the Evergreen parking lot, obviously is intended for trail users of various kinds — people who slide over skis in winter, pedal through the park in summer or hike regardless of the season.
—Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024
Start in Split or Dubrovnik and pedal your way through the old cities, then hop over to Hvar, Brač, or Korčula.
—Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2024
The aim is to create a corridor where people don’t want to drive their cars, instead opting to stroll or pedal through.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pedal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pedal
Cite this Entry
“Pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pedal
1 of 2 noun
ped·al
ˈped-ᵊl
: a lever (as on a piano, bicycle, or sewing machine) worked by the foot
pedal
2 of 2 verb
pedaled also pedalled; pedaling also pedalling
ˈped-ᵊl-iŋ,
-liŋ
1
: to use or work the pedals of something
2
: to ride a bicycle
Etymology
Noun
from early French pedale "a foot lever on an organ," from Italian pedale (same meaning), from Latin pedalis "of the foot," from ped-, pes "foot" — related to pedestrian
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