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

The pavement has been dug up by the Israeli military’s D-9 bulldozers – mounds of asphalt and dirt piled up on the sides of roads, often pouring into shops and homes. —Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025

After a seven-week trip abroad, the carry-on was able to withstand rolling through airports, on stairs, onto subways, a ferry, and across rough pavement. —Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2025

Colorado's Department of Transportation warns wet and icy pavement is causing delays on I-70 between Rifle and Vail. —Graeme Taskerud, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2025

Nelson described the plane making a hard landing before screeching over the pavement on its side and ultimately flipping onto its back, CBS News Minnesota reported. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2025

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
• 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