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

But burned soil can be as water-repellant as pavement, leading to more flash floods and debris flows, according to the weather service. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025

Crews will perform micro milling, a process that removes the top layer of pavement. —Rose Evans november 14, Idaho Statesman, 14 Nov. 2025

Stone pavements from the park will continue into the main foyer, which will host two large central timber staircases. —New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2025

The video shows blood on Moriarty’s hands and the young man whose head was banged into the pavement with a facial injury. —Jason Kravarik, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 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
• 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