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
Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Nov. 2024
The company fleet also includes traditional-looking SUVs with a driver's seat, steering wheel, and pedals, presumably for testing with a safety driver.
—Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2024
Along with paddle boarding, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling, new activities and features include clear-bottomed kayaks, sailing Hobie experiences, tandem kayaking, a catamaran, and pedal boarding.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2024
These include pedaling a tricycle, walking up and down stairs one step at a time, and running and jumping more easily.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pedal 
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Noun
Waymo and General Motors Co.’s Cruise have to this point largely only deployed autonomous cars that still have steering wheels and pedals, despite their ability to operate without a human in the driver’s seat.
—Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 18 Nov. 2024
The company fleet also includes traditional-looking SUVs with a driver's seat, steering wheel, and pedals, presumably for testing with a safety driver.
—Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Family-friendly fun with pedal cars, corn maze, mini golf, playsets, petting farm, ghost town village, trolley, disc golf, corn crib, foot golf, giant skee-ball and more.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2024
Along with paddle boarding, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkeling, new activities and features include clear-bottomed kayaks, sailing Hobie experiences, tandem kayaking, a catamaran, and pedal boarding.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Just beyond the entrance, a student pedals a white stationary bicycle as curious onlookers stop to watch.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 7 Nov. 2024
These include pedaling a tricycle, walking up and down stairs one step at a time, and running and jumping more easily.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pedal
Dictionary Entries Near pedal
Cite this Entry
“Pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedal. Accessed 26 Nov. 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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