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 group of cyclists, who fell after the clash, collided into the side of the SUV and fell onto the pavement. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

The nun takes a big tumble and remains on the pavement, as the man starts walking away. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026

The broader project is rehabilitating pavement and adding 14 miles of carpool lanes between Interstate 5 and Watt Avenue. —Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

Officers on patrol with the Lancashire Constabulary came upon the scene just as paramedics were administering CPR to Harden on the pavement, the statement said. —Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 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