pavement
PAYVMNT
Pavement (noun) means a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians at the side of a road (British usage; "sidewalk" in American English). Example: “Watch out, there's ice on the pavement this morning.”
noun
1
A hard-surfaced path for pedestrians at the side of a road (British usage; "sidewalk" in American English).
"Watch out, there's ice on the pavement this morning."
"Please walk on the pavement instead of in the road."
"We sat outside the cafe and watched people stroll along the pavement."
2
Any paved surface, including a road surface itself.
"The antirunway munitions are specifically designed to cause maximum destruction to airfield pavements."
— Airpower Journal 1911 (1991)
"The truck skidded across the wet pavement."
"The workers laid fresh pavement across the whole car park last week."
"Rain made the pavement shiny and slippery under the streetlights."
How to use pavement
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe paved surface you walk or drive on.
UK vs US
In British English "pavement" means the footpath beside a road; Americans call that a "sidewalk" and use "pavement" for the road surface itself.
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Word forms
- Plural
- pavements
Fill the gap
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Watch out, there's ice on the _____ this morning.
Etymology
From Latin pavimentum, "a beaten or paved surface," from pavire, "to beat or ram down" — the same root as "pave."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for pavement
cement
element
clement
movement
tenement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
amazement
See all rhymes for pavement →
Frequently asked questions
What does “pavement” mean?
The word “pavement” means a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians at the side of a road (British usage; "sidewalk" in American English). In plain terms, the paved surface you walk or drive on.
How do you pronounce “pavement”?
“Pavement” is pronounced PAYVMNT (/ˈpeɪvm(ə)nt/ in IPA).
How do you use “pavement” in a sentence?
Here is “pavement” used in a sentence: “Watch out, there's ice on the pavement this morning.”
What part of speech is “pavement”?
“Pavement” is a noun.
Where does the word “pavement” come from?
The word “pavement” comes from Latin. From Latin pavimentum, "a beaten or paved surface," from pavire, "to beat or ram down" — the same root as "pave.".
Is “pavement” a common word?
“Pavement” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “pavement” have?
“Pavement” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians at the side of a road (British usage; "sidewalk" in American English).
What is the difference between pavement and sidewalk?
Pavement is the standard British English term for a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians at the side of a road, while sidewalk is the equivalent term in American English. In American English, "pavement" more often refers to the paved road surface itself rather than the pedestrian path.
Does pavement always refer to a path for pedestrians?
No, pavement can also refer more broadly to any paved surface, including the road surface itself, not just the pedestrian path alongside it. Context and regional usage determine which meaning applies.
Why does British and American English differ on the meaning of pavement?
The divergence reflects separate regional conventions: British English reserves "pavement" for the pedestrian path and uses "road" or "road surface" for vehicle areas, while American English uses "sidewalk" for pedestrians and "pavement" more loosely for any paved surface.
