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

As the Class of 2026 hits the pavement, here are 25 high-paying fields for new college graduates. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Romanch fell out of the carriage and hit his head on the pavement, police said. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 19 June 2026

The officer, while still sitting on the pavement, then fired what appeared to be a single shot at the man from a few feet away. —Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

The incident marks the second time in less than a month that the same section of pavement has required emergency engineering work. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 18 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