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

Facing the problem of rain diminishing the visibility of the paint, Botts developed ceramic markers that would rise above rain-slick pavement and still be visible. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 Mar. 2026

Kamau fading, then lunging, then crumpling to the pavement at the line. —Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026

If planted near a driveway, a silver maple’s roots will push up against pavement, causing cracks and bumps. —Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026

Side-running bus lanes in those areas would follow a complete road reconstruction, including new sidewalks, medians, boulevards, pavements, curbs and gutters. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 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