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 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 The harder the president pushes the inflationary gas pedal with spending and regulations, the harder the Fed must slam the brakes with higher interest rates. Brian Riedl, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 July 2024 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 Courier-Journal, 19 Jan. 2024 California Rebecca Grossman floored gas pedal, struck 2 boys at ‘freeway speeds,’ investigators say Feb. 8, 2024 Deputy Dist. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 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 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!