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.
Rough pavement reminds you that affordable cars are a thing, though. — New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026 Valarie hit her head on the pavement, causing bleeding on her brain. — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 31 July 2026 Additionally, standard formulas quickly deactivate upon contact with pavement or dust, failing to prevent new seeds trapped in the cracks from sprouting days later. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026 Ram is doing something no one else has really done before by rolling out an entire lineup of pavement-pounding muscle trucks. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 29 July 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 5 Aug. 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

Nglish: Translation of pavement for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pavement

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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