Word noun
sidewalk
n.
US /ˈsaɪdˌwɔk/ UK /sˈaɪdwɔːk/ side·walk UK spelling sidewalk's, sidewalk's
Definition
- 01 A2 Elementary
a hard path for people to walk on, usually at the side of a street.
a paved footpath located at the side of a road for pedestrian use.
Simple“The children were told to stay on the sidewalk and away from the cars.”
In context“The city council recently allocated funds to repair the cracked sidewalks in the residential district to improve pedestrian safety.”
UsageIn British English, this is called a 'pavement'.
Teacher's tipThis is a high-frequency word in American English; learners should be aware that 'pavement' in the US often refers to the road surface itself.
PitfallI walked on the pavement in New York. I walked on the sidewalk in New York.In American English, use 'sidewalk'. In British English, 'pavement' is the standard term for this path.
Etymology
From side + walk.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated