pedal

1 of 3

noun

ped·​al ˈpe-dᵊl How to pronounce pedal (audio)
1
: a lever pressed by the foot in the playing of a musical instrument (such as an organ or piano)
2
: a foot lever or treadle by which a part is activated in a mechanism
a bike's pedals

pedal

2 of 3

adjective

ped·​al
1
ˈpe-dᵊl How to pronounce pedal (audio)
 also  ˈpē-
: of or relating to the foot
2
ˈpe-dᵊl How to pronounce pedal (audio) : of, relating to, or involving a pedal

pedal

3 of 3

verb

ped·​al ˈpe-dᵊl How to pronounce pedal (audio)
pedaled also pedalled; pedaling also pedalling ˈpe-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce pedal (audio)
ˈped-liŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to ride a bicycle
2
: to use or work a pedal

transitive verb

: to work the pedals of

Example Sentences

Verb He was pedaling as fast as he could. He pedaled down to the store.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Country music newcomer Breland is a pedal-to-the-metal sensation. Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2023 Playing pedal-to-the-metal, head-rattling, screaming-down-the-interstate hoops. Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2023 In 2023, and concerning Canada’s unique pedal-to-the-metal approach to assisted dying in particular – there remain many more questions than entirely satisfactory answers. Gus Alexiou, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2023 Take off on one of the loaner bikes and pedal to the nearby town of Guerneville for lunch, or grab an inner tube for a lazy float down the river. Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2022 One foot off the pedal can send several cars spinning and looking for a clear path to run, which may not exist. Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023 The Rebels kept the pedal pressed to open the second half, extending its lead on a 6-0 run before Bob Jones made its first field goal of the third quarter. Evan Dudley, al, 16 Feb. 2023 The Pacers didn't take the foot off the pedal in the fourth quarter and remarkably came within seven points of taking the lead. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Jan. 2023 The Frogs have had one heck of a season, but now is not the time to take their foot off the gas pedal. Dallas News, 26 Nov. 2022
Adjective
Power steering and low-effort shifting and pedal action give the Storm a light, nimble feel. Kevin Smith, Car and Driver, 4 Mar. 2023 Class 2 also offers pedal-assist up to 20 mph, but also has a throttle-powered mode. Dan Cavallari, Popular Mechanics, 3 Mar. 2023 Bart Graves, a department spokesperson, later said that a motorcycle trooper stopped a man riding a pedal bike near 24th Street and Thomas for a traffic infraction and discovered the man had an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 2 Mar. 2023 Smith and Seth McCarroll launched Old Blood in 2014, and the duo spent most of the last decade creating one of the most unique and complex guitar effects pedal companies on the market. Josh Chesler, SPIN, 1 Mar. 2023 Equipment on each expedition ship for exploring the natural environment includes military-grade special operations boats, zodiacs, and polar kayaks with a pedal system to facilitate photography. Johanna Read, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023 Two of Robert Schumann’s Op. 58 Sketches, composed for pedal piano, were delivered with apt swagger. Dallas News, 15 Feb. 2023 That view is of the one thing that is more ubiquitous now in downtown Nashville than pedal taverns: an unfinished skyscraper. Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2023 But a step-up from there comes pedal hydrostatic or continuously variable transmission (CVT) operated by a shift-on-the-go hand lever. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 5 May 2022
Verb
The exosphere’s the limit for a group of traveling salespeople who pedal lunar timeshares in Apple TV+’s retro-futuristic dramedy. Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2023 Hop on a beach cruiser to pedal along downtown streets. Outside Online, 4 Jan. 2023 Over 1,000 bicycle riders hit the track every Tuesday night to pedal around the circuit. Bruce Martin, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2022 Mountain bikers especially will want to pedal over to Bayou Wilds, a section in the southwest part of Memorial Park that has eight unpaved trails. Rebecca Treon, Chron, 12 Oct. 2022 In the new format, inspired by the reusable SpaceX Falcon rocket, riders must ride straight uphill, stop, then slowly pedal backward to the starting ramp. The Editors, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2022 Arizona Party Bike offers a 14-passenger party bike where bachelorette babes can pedal around Old Town Scottsdale to three bars listening to their favorite music. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Over 50 cyclists got an opportunity to pedal for a cause at the spinning class gymnasium conducted at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. Emmett Hall, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2022 Vintage has made sure this lag doesn't happen on the Roadster; the transition from throttle to pedal assist is silky smooth. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 19 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pedal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French pedale, from Italian, from Latin pedalis, adjective

Adjective

Latin pedalis, from ped-, pes

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pedal was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near pedal

Cite this Entry

“Pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

pedal

1 of 2 noun
ped·​al ˈped-ᵊl How to pronounce pedal (audio)
: 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

Medical Definition

pedal

adjective
ped·​al
ˈped-ᵊl also ˈpēd-
: of or relating to the foot

More from Merriam-Webster on pedal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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