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.
The reconstruction includes replacing pavement, improving drainage systems and upgrading pedestrian facilities. Maddie Robinson, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024 Trees and vines overhung the road, and the pavement was cracked and breaking up along the shoulders, but none of it made for a difficult climb, only a bit sticky in the stagnant heat. Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 The lower speed is effective for clearing the pavement or tight corners, and the higher speed works well on the open lawn. Sandi Schwartz, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024 Two decades after it was introduced, Ducati’s do-everything model, the Multistrada, has evolved from an ungainly ugly duckling to a sleek pavement scorcher than can also head off the pavement. William Roberson, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near pavement

Cite this Entry

“Pavement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pavement. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!