pave

1 of 2

verb

ˈpāv 

paved; paving

transitive verb

1

: to lay or cover with material (such as asphalt or concrete) that forms a firm level surface for travel

2

: to cover firmly and solidly as if with paving material

3

: to serve as a covering or pavement of

pavé

2 of 2

adjective

pa·​vé pa-ˈvā 

variants or less commonly pavéed or pavéd

pa-ˈvād 

or pave

pa-ˈvā 

of jewels

: set as close together as possible to conceal a metal base

Phrases

pave the way

: to prepare a smooth easy way : facilitate development

Examples of pave in a Sentence

Verb

The crew was paving the road.

Some of the roads were paved over.

The driveway is paved with concrete.

It was said that this country was so rich, the streets were paved with gold.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Begging or drunkenness could mean a week to a couple of months on a chain gang, grading and paving roads, fixing bridges, hauling debris, and otherwise helping to construct the fast-growing city. —JSTOR Daily, 21 Oct. 2025

Advertisement The road to peace, as the Romans knew, was paved with war. —Barry Strauss, Time, 21 Oct. 2025

An agreement between the Japan Innovation Party and the LDP over the weekend paved her way forward. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025

Knowing his family wouldn’t be passing down any inheritance to him, the hedge fund mogul paved his own path towards billion-dollar success. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French paver, from Latin pavire to strike, pound; perhaps akin to Greek paiein to strike

Adjective

pavé from French, from past participle of paver to pave

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1903, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pave

• pave over
• pave the way for (something or someone)
• re-pave

Rhymes for pave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• rave
• shave

Kids Definition

pave

verb

ˈpāv 

paved; paving

: to lay or cover with material (as stone or concrete) that forms a firm level surface for travel