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

Thousands of crashes and hundreds of fatalities happen each year on snowy or icy pavement. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

The animal welfare organization advised that icy pavement can be hard on pets' feet, and owners should consider outfitting their dogs in pet-friendly boots or keeping walks short. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

In Reason Foundation’s most recent Annual Highway Report, California ranks in the bottom 10 of all states in all four pavement quality categories, which increases car repair costs and reduces safety. —Baruch Feigenbaum, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026

Of the 260 horses Subaru keeps in the stable, I’d wager that about 50 or 60 have gone missing by the time the herd reaches the pavement. —Byron Hurd, The Drive, 22 Jan. 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