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

Mitigation projects the program could support include short-term solutions like permeable pavement with gaps between the gravel that act as a reservoir for passing water, electrical system protection and rain gardens with native plants that absorb the water. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025

The bodies of the dead and wounded could be seen lying on the pavement, one of them by a playground, in unverified videos circulating on Telegram, as grey smoke rose into the sky. —Yuliia Dysa and Tom Balmforth, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025

Zoom in: House Bill 369, the Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act, would also ban coal tar sealants and other toxic pavement products that are harmful to humans and the environment. —Alexandria Sands, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

With the Urus set to Corsa mode on pavement, its 4.0-liter V-8 makes all the right burbly, poppy, and crackly sounds from its quad exhaust pipes, reinforcing the brand’s audacious identity despite the model’s high-riding profile. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 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