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

Dogs may need booties to protect their paws from hot pavement; Best Friends Animal Society recommends holding your hand to the pavement for 7 seconds before a walk. — David Yeomans, CBS News, 25 June 2026

The projects include things like installing mid-block pedestrian crossings, new pavement markings and signs warning drivers to be on the lookout for pedestrians. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

Traditional pavement assessment relies on periodic field surveys where inspectors manually log conditions every two to four years. — Mark Pittman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Other ants found in North Carolina include fire ants, Argentine ants, pavement ants and acrobat ants, according to Triangle Pest Control. — Eva Flowe june 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 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