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
Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2025
But most race car drivers use their left foot to brake instead of placing it on the clutch pedal to help brake into the corners, as van Gisbergen and his Supercars colleagues in Australia do.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Paulina Czupryna, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Alongside the additional oomph, Aston Martin has also altered the throttle map, launch control and pedal weight, meaning 0-to-62 mph takes just 3.4 seconds, while 0-to-124 mph is done in 10.1 seconds; top speed remains the same at 201 mph, but the new Vantage is a bit quicker in getting there.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Kim Kay, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025
Some reach higher speeds than others, and some don’t require the bicyclist to pedal.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pedal
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Noun
Albeit, the Sounders may have let off the gas pedal with a multi-goal lead.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2025
But most race car drivers use their left foot to brake instead of placing it on the clutch pedal to help brake into the corners, as van Gisbergen and his Supercars colleagues in Australia do.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Adjective
Under the town’s rules, anyone younger than 16 can ride less powerful Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes without motor assistance, relying on pedal power alone.
—Paulina Czupryna, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
Alongside the additional oomph, Aston Martin has also altered the throttle map, launch control and pedal weight, meaning 0-to-62 mph takes just 3.4 seconds, while 0-to-124 mph is done in 10.1 seconds; top speed remains the same at 201 mph, but the new Vantage is a bit quicker in getting there.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
For those that prefer to pedal, Yokohama has a user-friendly community e-bike program, Yokohama Bay Bikes.
—Kim Kay, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025
Some reach higher speeds than others, and some don’t require the bicyclist to pedal.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pedal
Cite this Entry
“Pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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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