pave

1 of 2

verb

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 How to pronounce pavé (audio)
variants or less commonly pavéed or pavéd or pave
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Their discovery could pave the way to simulate blood disorders like leukemia and produce long-lasting stem cells for transplants. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025 The unranked list will recognize a distinguished group of women whose accomplishments have left a mark on the business world and who are paving a path forward. Harriet Taylor, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 The road to no more invitations is paved with good intentions. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025 Its commitment to moderation, development, and cross-regional cooperation paved the way for this moment. Yossi Shelley, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pave

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pave was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pave. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pave

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

More from Merriam-Webster on pave

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