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 in their daring escape through the window, the crown of Empress Eugénie slipped from their grasp and was left battered on the pavement below. —Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026

The roughly $200 million project will include a reconstructed interchange at I-35, new bridges, wider pavement, road realignments and extensions, new traffic signals, medians, sidewalks and other safety improvements. —Kendrick Calfee updated February 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026

Frail elderly women, swathed in headscarves and saris, worshipped while sitting on puddled pavement near corroded metal changing lockers plastered with ads for Glow & Lovely skin cream. —Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026

This combination of road salt and brine helps to prevent the snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, keeping roads from getting too slick and causing car accidents. —Molly Burford, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 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