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.
Jerky movements — twisting the wheel suddenly or slamming your foot on the brake or gas pedal — can throw your vehicle into a skid. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 11 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 All complex body systems require the equivalent of brakes and a gas pedal to maintain control, and the vagus nerve serves these roles for many of our innate responses, nearly all of which occur involuntarily. R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 29 Sep. 2024 Megan Thee Stallion’s gas pedal isn’t just limited to more music, either. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2024 Tesla recalled nearly 3,900 Cybertrucks in April over gas pedals that could get stuck, causing the vehicles to accelerate unintentionally. Ty Roush, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, any company seeking to operate a noncompliant vehicle, like a robotaxi without a steering wheel or gas pedals, must apply for and receive an exemption from the agency before operating on public roads. Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 23 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near gas pedal

Cite this Entry

“Gas pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gas%20pedal. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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