What does pedalled mean?
Pedalled is the past tense and past participle of pedal, meaning to propel or ride a bicycle or other pedal-powered vehicle by pressing the pedals. The word is used in both British and American English, although the two l's in the British spelling are typically absent in American usage. Pedalling often suggests visible physical effort, especially when a cyclist is travelling uphill or at speed, but it can simply describe the ordinary action of riding. In descriptions of journeys, it can add a sense of human-powered movement and endurance. The expression “pedalled hard” is especially common, while “pedalled away” can suggest continuing steadily despite effort or difficulty. As an inflected form, pedalled is normally used with a subject in the past tense or as part of a perfect construction, and it is not normally used as a noun or adjective.
verbTo propel a bicycle or similar vehicle by pressing the pedals, or to ride such a vehicle using the pedals. It is the past tense and past participle of pedal.
- To propel or ride a bicycle or similar vehicle by operating its pedals.
"She pedalled up the steep hill with considerable effort."
"We pedalled along the canal for several miles."
"The delivery rider pedalled quickly through the busy streets."
Pedalling is a remarkably compact way to move: a small push at the pedals can carry a cyclist far uphill or across town.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pedalled come from?
The underlying word pedal comes from Latin pedalis, meaning “of the foot” or “belonging to the foot,” from pēs, “foot.” It entered English in the 16th century for a foot-operated lever or part of a machine and later for the lever operated by a cyclist. The double-l spelling pedalled follows the standard British treatment of verbs ending in a single l after a stressed syllable.
Related word forms
How pedalled is actually used
In British English, the standard past tense and past participle are spelled with two l's: pedalled. American English commonly uses pedaled. The word usually describes cycling or another pedal-powered activity.