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

According to MnDOT, the project will resurface aging pavement, repair and improve bridges, repair and resurface ramps, replace drainage and make additional safety enhancements. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026

For years, researchers believed dendrites—tiny, branch-like structures that can trigger battery failure—formed mainly due to mechanical stress, similar to cracks in pavement. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026

Even though the controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway, lights embedded in the pavement of the taxiway should have lit up red to warn the driver that the Air Canada plane was coming into land. —ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026

Salt doesn’t stay on the pavement. —Jenna Prestininzi, USA Today, 25 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