pavement

noun

pave·​ment ˈpāv-mənt How to pronounce pavement (audio)
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
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.
What videos showed of ICE vehicle incident Video shared by NorCal Resist showed Moreida standing in the street recording an approaching SUV when its front-right corner appeared to strike him, knocking him to the pavement. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Pablo Gutierrez-Gallegos was then found unresponsive on the pavement as officers walked toward a restaurant. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2026 With your favorite pair of jeans and a wool scarf coat, these boots are ready to pound the pavement. — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026 Once they are dispersed, the seeds will germinate in poor soils, cracks in pavement, rail beds, or disturbed ground. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pavement

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pavement was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing pavement

Rhymes for pavement

See All Rhymes for pavement

Browse Nearby Words

pavé
pavement
pavemental
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pavement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pavement. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pavement

noun
pave·​ment ˈpāv-mənt How to pronounce pavement (audio)
1
: a paved surface (as of a street)
2
: the material with which something is paved

More from Merriam-Webster on pavement

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pavement

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