paved
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.covered with a hard, flat surface like stone, concrete, or asphalt.
adj.covered with a durable, man-made surface such as pavement, asphalt, or stone slabs.
Simple“The paved road was much easier to cycle on than the muddy path.”
In context“The city council prioritised the maintenance of paved walkways in the historic district to ensure pedestrian safety during the winter months.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.the past tense of 'pave', meaning you covered a path with a hard material.
v.the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'pave', referring to the act of laying a hard surface.
Simple“They paved the driveway last summer to stop the car from getting stuck in the mud.”
In context“After the utility company finished the repairs, they paved the section of the street they had excavated to restore the original traffic flow.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.used in the phrase 'paved the way' to mean making it easier for something to happen later.
v.used figuratively in the idiom 'pave the way' to describe the act of creating circumstances that allow for future developments.
Simple“Her hard work paved the way for other women to join the company.”
In context“The success of the initial pilot programme paved the way for a nationwide rollout of the new educational software.”
Synonyms
Usage paved the way
“By 1915, the US paved a road from Canada to Mexico.”
“Born to Nigerian parents and raised in Enfield, a corner of London paved with gold, I started playing the drums at church (I know, typical).”
From Middle English paved, ypavyd, equivalent to pave + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.