sidewalk
SYD-wawk
Sidewalk (noun) means a paved path alongside a road, reserved for pedestrians. Example: “Children were skateboarding along the sidewalk.”
noun
1
A paved path alongside a road, reserved for pedestrians.
"Morning commuters in parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas discovered slick sidewalks and icy roadways Monday."
— Elizabeth Wolfe, Icy conditions make for hazardous travel across central US, but warmer air is on the horizon (2024)
"Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said body camera video and footage from a nearby business appear to show the suspect charge at officer Travis Brown near a sidewalk during the Friday night protests."
— Emma Tucker and Cindy Von Quednow (2024)
"Children were skateboarding along the sidewalk."
"Please stay on the sidewalk and wait for the green light."
"Leaves covered the sidewalk outside the shop after the autumn wind."
How to use sidewalk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe paved pedestrian path beside a street.
UK vs US
This is the standard American English term; British English generally says "pavement" instead.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- sidewalks
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Children were skateboarding along the _____.
Etymology
A compound of "side" and "walk".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sidewalk
See all rhymes for sidewalk →Frequently asked questions
What does “sidewalk” mean?
The word “sidewalk” means a paved path alongside a road, reserved for pedestrians. In plain terms, the paved pedestrian path beside a street.
How do you pronounce “sidewalk”?
“Sidewalk” is pronounced SYD-wawk (/ˈsaɪdwɔk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sidewalk” in a sentence?
Here is “sidewalk” used in a sentence: “Children were skateboarding along the sidewalk.”
What part of speech is “sidewalk”?
“Sidewalk” is a noun.
Is “sidewalk” a common word?
“Sidewalk” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "sidewalk" and "pavement"?
"Sidewalk" is the term used in American English for a paved path alongside a road reserved for pedestrians, while British English typically uses "pavement" for the same feature. Both describe the same physical structure, differing only in regional word choice.
What is the difference between a "sidewalk" and a "footpath"?
A "sidewalk" is a paved path running alongside a road, built specifically for pedestrian use, whereas "footpath" can refer more broadly to any walking path, including unpaved ones away from roads. "Footpath" is more common in British and Australian English.
Is "sidewalk" written as one word?
Yes, "sidewalk" is written as a single word in standard American English, without a hyphen or space.
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