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

The shift change shatters my sleep like a robin’s egg crashing against pavement. —Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

Israeli special forces, ambulances and rescue workers rushed to the attack site where bloodstained pavements were littered with shattered glass from bus windows damaged in the shooting. —Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025

The project will rehabilitate pavement along the main roadway, shoulders and freeway ramps to extend its service life. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

The bridge will re-open to one lane of traffic in each direction in November, as pavement markings are added and cleanup work is peformed, according to DPW. —Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 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