Word
paved
US/ˈpeɪvd/
UK/pˈeɪvd/
Definitions
01covered with a hard surface
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.
“The paved road was much easier to cycle on than the muddy path.”
“The city council prioritised the maintenance of paved walkways in the historic district to ensure pedestrian safety during the winter months.”
02past action of covering a surface
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.
“They paved the driveway last summer to stop the car from getting stuck in the mud.”
“After the utility company finished the repairs, they paved the section of the street they had excavated to restore the original traffic flow.”
Antonyms
03to prepare the way
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.
“Her hard work paved the way for other women to join the company.”
“The success of the initial pilot programme paved the way for a nationwide rollout of the new educational software.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “paved” in context.
Real-World Examples
“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).” Etymology
From Middle English paved, ypavyd, equivalent to pave + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/paved