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

While the road is shut down, crews also plan to make drainage improvements and reconstruct pavement. —Brandon Goldner, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

The incident happened Tuesday afternoon in a trendy section of the Midwest city, when a sport utility vehicle and a pickup truck waiting at a traffic light dropped into a hole several feet deep when the pavement under them suddenly gave way. —ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026

Video has circulated widely on social media showing Brian Nateren, 19, being pinned to the parking lot pavement. —Kendrick Calfee updated February 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026

With the new outsole compound also comes a multi-directional hex pattern that enables a runner to dig in on soft ground without being overburdensome on pavement. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 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