# pave

/ˈpeɪv/ (US) · /pˈeɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pave
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to cover a surface

verb · CEFR B2

to cover a path, road, or area of ground with a hard surface like stone, brick, or concrete.

For teachers: to cover a surface with flat stones, concrete, or asphalt to create a durable thoroughfare or floor.

- The workers are going to pave the driveway with grey stones next week.
- The city council decided to pave the historic market square with traditional cobblestones to maintain its nineteenth-century aesthetic.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice when describing roads or paths.

### 2. to prepare the way

verb · CEFR B2

to make it easier for something to happen or for someone to do something in the future.

For teachers: to create the circumstances that allow a future development to happen; almost exclusively used in the phrase 'pave the way'.

- This new medical discovery could pave the way for a cure.
- The successful pilot programme helped pave the way for a national rollout of the new educational policy.

Usage: Typically takes the preposition 'for' after the object 'the way'.

## Examples

- The workers will pave the driveway tomorrow.
- The city decided to pave the old dirt road to improve access for local residents during the rainy season.
- By investing heavily in renewable energy research, the government hopes to pave the way for a sustainable economy that no longer relies on fossil fuels.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.