gas pedal

noun

plural gas pedals
US
: a pedal in a vehicle for increasing the speed of the internal combustion engine
Suddenly, she released the clutch, floored the gas pedal, and the Nissan jumped forward with a screech.—Marilyn Reynolds
: accelerator sense b
The Aston responds instantly as he presses the gas pedal half an inch closer to the floor.—Frank Conroy

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.
The Federal Reserve may be trying to drive a car with a gas pedal that doesn’t work. — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Jerky movements — twisting the wheel suddenly or slamming your foot on the brake or gas pedal — can throw your vehicle into a skid. — Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 29 Nov. 2025 The legendary jazz guitarist from Lee’s Summit continues to keep his foot on the musical gas pedal, touring the nation and the world with only a rare day’s rest. — Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026 This level of autonomy means that the car comes equipped with tools for control, including a steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake, but can safely travel without a person in the driver’s seat. — IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gas pedal

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for gas pedal

See All Rhymes for gas pedal

Browse Nearby Words

gas packing
gas pedal
Gaspé Peninsula
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gas pedal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gas%20pedal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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