gas pedal

noun

plural gas pedals
US
: a pedal in a vehicle that increases the output of the internal combustion engine
The Aston responds instantly as he presses the gas pedal half an inch closer to the floor.Frank Conroy
Suddenly, she released the clutch, floored the gas pedal, and the Nissan jumped forward with a screech.Marilyn Reynolds
: accelerator sense b

Examples of gas pedal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After further investigation via the black box (which records the flight), the landing accident was determined to be caused by an error with the thrust levers, which are similar to a gas pedal in a car. Jordana Comiter, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Sympathetic drive — the fight-or-flight response — works like a gas pedal, while parasympathetic drive provides the brake. Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Not exactly animal spirits, unfortunately, as investors are looking for the Chinese government to push the stimulus gas pedal further. Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025 Excitatory neurotransmitters act like a gas pedal, exciting neurons, while inhibitory ones act like a brake. New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2025 Jerky movements — twisting the wheel suddenly or slamming your foot on the brake or gas pedal — can throw your vehicle into a skid. Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Dec. 2024 The Tesla Cybertruck, available for just over a year, has faced six recalls, including issues with its electric inverter, rearview camera, windshield wipers and gas pedal design. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 Slamming on the brakes or gas pedal could put you into a dangerous spin. Christopher Cann, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024 After trial and error, my colleagues and I found that rats could learn to drive forward by grasping a small wire that acted like a gas pedal. Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gas pedal was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gas pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gas%20pedal. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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