pavement

noun

pave·​ment ˈpāv-mənt 

1

: a paved surface: such as

a

: the artificially covered surface of a public thoroughfare

b

chiefly British : sidewalk

2

: the material with which something is paved

3

: something that suggests a pavement (as in flatness, hardness, and extent of surface)

Examples of pavement in a Sentence

He stopped the car just off the pavement.

The summer heat rose off the pavement.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hadel responded by punching Brown twice, sending him pummeling towards the ground, hitting his head on the pavement and lying motionless on the pavement. —Mathew Schumer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026

The bells rang across the piazza, echoing over damp pavements, mosaics washed in late afternoon light, an earlier rain mirroring the Doge’s Palace against the marble surface. —Vic O'Sullivan, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026

They are marked with HOV signs and a white diamond on the pavement. —Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026

My time was limited, but the steering was a delight and communicated what was going on on the pavement with the Pirelli PZero tires. —Joel Feder, The Drive, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pavimentum, from pavire

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pavement

• hit the pavement
• pavement café
• pounded the streets/pavement
• pound the streets/pavement

Rhymes for pavement

• enslavement

Kids Definition

pavement

noun

pave·​ment ˈpāv-mənt 

1

: a paved surface (as of a street)

2

: the material with which something is paved