What does pedaled mean?
Pedaled is the simple past tense and past participle of pedal and is most often used to describe someone riding or operating a bicycle. A person who pedaled up a hill, pedaled to work, or pedaled away took the action of pushing the pedals that make the bicycle move. The word can also describe a bicycle-powered machine, such as a pedaled tricycle, although such uses are less common. In American English, “pedaled” has one l; British English traditionally uses the double-l form “pedalled.” Because it is a verb form rather than a separate dictionary headword, it appears in phrases reporting an action that has already happened or as part of a perfect construction. Its principal present-day meaning is therefore highly specific, but the spelling is worth recognizing because it is pronounced like peddled, a verb associated with selling or promoting products.
To propel or ride a bicycle or similar machine by pushing its pedals.
"We pedaled along the river until sunset."
The form is the simple past tense and past participle of pedal. It is standard in American English; British English traditionally spells it “pedalled.”
Equipped with pedals or propelled by means of pedals.
"The shop sells a pedaled tricycle for children."
This attributive use is comparatively uncommon and less usual than the verb inflection.
Pedaled shares its pronunciation with peddled, but one involves bicycle riding while the other involves selling.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pedaled come from?
Pedaled derives from pedal, which comes through French from the Latin pedalis, meaning “of the foot.” The Latin adjective belongs to the family of pes, pedis, meaning “foot,” the same source of words such as pedestrian and pedigree. The verb originally referred to using or moving the feet or pedals, and its cycling sense became established as bicycles developed.
Related word forms
How pedaled is actually used
In American English, the past tense and past participle are spelled with one l as in “pedaled.” British English traditionally uses “pedalled,” though “pedaled” is also understood and sometimes used. As an inflected form, “pedaled” normally appears with a subject such as a person, bicycle, or other pedal-driven machine.
Easily confused with pedaled
Pedaled means to propel or ride a bicycle by using its pedals, whereas peddled means to sell goods or promote an idea.