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

Hardy fell chin-first onto the pavement; Showalter then allegedly got on top of Hardy, placed him into handcuffs and arrested him. —Maddie Carr july 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025

Much of the work is resurfacing and will create only minimal traffic impacts, but streets that require reconstruction — pavement milling, road base removal, new stone, fresh oil and new asphalt — will result in temporary closures, officials said. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025

The manual specifically notes that pavement art associated with social, political or ideological messages is banned, and that the state can withhold funding from any agency not in compliance, according to the state’s letter. —Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 July 2025

Others are to add bike lanes and improve pedestrian visibility at crossovers with better traffic lights, signs and pavement markings. —John Tuohy, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

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
• 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