bi·cy·cle
ˈbī-si-kəl 
-ˌsi-,
also -ˌsī-
: a vehicle with two wheels tandem, handlebars for steering, a saddle seat, and pedals by which it is propelled
also
: a stationary exercise machine that resembles such a vehicle
bicycled; bicycling
ˈbī-si-k(ə-)liŋ
-ˌsi-,
also -ˌsī-
: to ride a bicycle
: to move (one's legs) as if pedaling a bicycle
Naomi and I lay on the bed, bicycling our legs in the air in the lazy giggly manner of summer …—
Sophie Masson
Sophie Masson
Synonyms
Examples of bicycle in a Sentence
Noun
the range of the boy's explorations vastly expanded when he acquired his first bicycle
Recent Examples on the WebAndrew O’Hagan, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The man tried to ride away on a bicycle but was stopped by deputies, the sheriff’s department said.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
On June 25, 1894, Londonderry set off from the Massachusetts State House on a 42-pound men’s Columbus bicycle to the cheers of 500 friends, family, suffragists and onlookers.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
There are bicycles, barbecues, tents and snowmobiles.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
Black-and-white photographs — a tree with a string tied around it, a single lightbulb, a bicycle seat — provide stunning contrast as everyday life, much of it dusty and summertime hot, brushes up against gliding and ghostly female forms.
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The city will also make safety improvements closer to the Highway 4 exit, with striping to make the bicycle lanes continuous and the elimination of some street parking in the area, the mayor said.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Elk Grove and Sacramento Zoological Society’s draft environmental impact report was released in January, which detailed factors including a special planning area and rezoning, an amendment to the city’s bicycle and pedestrian trails master plan, and more.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024
There are also several options for rental bicycles and scooters throughout downtown Louisville.
—Maggie Kimberl, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
This 2020 survey found that COVID-19 motivated many older adults to start bicycling more often.
—Erin Gifford, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2024
Starr was bicycling in the outbound right lane near the curb.
—Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2024
Scouting for turkeys can be as simple as driving, bicycling or walking along a road or trail, stopping and calling every now and then and listening for gobbles.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024
The resulting transportation problem can then be solved with green socialism: mass carpooling plus bicycling and walking.
—WSJ, 27 Oct. 2023
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Julie Craven used to bicycle nearly 4 miles across Cambridge to her job as a middle school principal.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2023
The Globe presents the U.S. premiere of this London-born 2022 musical by Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams, inspired by the true story of Annie Londonderry, an American woman who became the first woman to bicycle around the world in 1895.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
When Gloria San Miguel was struck by a SUV while bicycling on the 11th Street bridge that connects Newport and Covington, her fiancé saw the whole thing happen.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2023
Noun
In Spears’s time, managers operated variously as cult leaders or spin doctors, issuing editorials about their clients as opposed to repairing their bicycles.
—Andrew O’Hagan, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
The man tried to ride away on a bicycle but was stopped by deputies, the sheriff’s department said.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024
On June 25, 1894, Londonderry set off from the Massachusetts State House on a 42-pound men’s Columbus bicycle to the cheers of 500 friends, family, suffragists and onlookers.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
There are bicycles, barbecues, tents and snowmobiles.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
Black-and-white photographs — a tree with a string tied around it, a single lightbulb, a bicycle seat — provide stunning contrast as everyday life, much of it dusty and summertime hot, brushes up against gliding and ghostly female forms.
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The city will also make safety improvements closer to the Highway 4 exit, with striping to make the bicycle lanes continuous and the elimination of some street parking in the area, the mayor said.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
Elk Grove and Sacramento Zoological Society’s draft environmental impact report was released in January, which detailed factors including a special planning area and rezoning, an amendment to the city’s bicycle and pedestrian trails master plan, and more.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024
There are also several options for rental bicycles and scooters throughout downtown Louisville.
—Maggie Kimberl, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
But the first woman to bicycle around the world is gaining notoriety at last thanks to a 2023 stage musical by Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams that London audiences flocked to see.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
This 2020 survey found that COVID-19 motivated many older adults to start bicycling more often.
—Erin Gifford, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2024
Starr was bicycling in the outbound right lane near the curb.
—Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2024
Scouting for turkeys can be as simple as driving, bicycling or walking along a road or trail, stopping and calling every now and then and listening for gobbles.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024
The resulting transportation problem can then be solved with green socialism: mass carpooling plus bicycling and walking.
—WSJ, 27 Oct. 2023
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Julie Craven used to bicycle nearly 4 miles across Cambridge to her job as a middle school principal.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2023
The Globe presents the U.S. premiere of this London-born 2022 musical by Freya Catrin Smith and Jack Williams, inspired by the true story of Annie Londonderry, an American woman who became the first woman to bicycle around the world in 1895.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2023
When Gloria San Miguel was struck by a SUV while bicycling on the 11th Street bridge that connects Newport and Covington, her fiancé saw the whole thing happen.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bicycle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
French, from bi- + -cycle (as in tricycle)
First Known Use
Noun
1868, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1869, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing bicycle
Dictionary Entries Near bicycle
Cite this Entry
“Bicycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bicycle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
bicycle
1 of 2 noun
bi·cy·cle
ˈbī-ˌsik-əl
-ˌsīk-
: a light vehicle with two wheels behind one another, handlebars, a saddle seat, and pedals by which it is made to move
More from Merriam-Webster on bicycle
Nglish: Translation of bicycle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of bicycle for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bicycle
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