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

Crews will spend several days rebuilding and paving each section before moving on to the next, according to a press release, and the project will remove deteriorated pavement before the application of new asphalt. —Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026

During this project, crews will dig into the ground, pull out the old rail and pavement, and reconstruct a new one. —Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 28 May 2026

City officials determined which potholes would be filled based on recommendations from the eight City Council offices, pavement condition data, service requests submitted by residents and public works field inspections. —Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026

However, where the 50MP shot shines is in the fine details; the gritty, granular pavement, for example, is more distinct. —Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 28 May 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