pave
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to cover a path, road, or area of ground with a hard surface like stone, brick, or concrete.
to cover a surface with flat stones, concrete, or asphalt to create a durable thoroughfare or floor.
Simple“The workers are going to pave the driveway with grey stones next week.”
In context“The city council decided to pave the historic market square with traditional cobblestones to maintain its nineteenth-century aesthetic.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice when describing roads or paths.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to make it easier for something to happen or for someone to do something in the future.
to create the circumstances that allow a future development to happen; almost exclusively used in the phrase 'pave the way'.
Simple“This new medical discovery could pave the way for a cure.”
In context“The successful pilot programme helped pave the way for a national rollout of the new educational policy.”
UsageTypically takes the preposition 'for' after the object 'the way'.
Synonyms
Usage pave the way
From Old French paver (“to pave, to cover”), from Vulgar Latin *pavāre (“to beat down, to smash”), from Latin pavīre (“to beat, strike, ram, tread down”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.