ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sidewalk

n.
US //ˈsaɪdˌwɔk// UK //sˈaɪdwɔːk// side·walk
  1. 1 path beside a road (n.)
    A2 Elementary American English

    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.

    Example

    The children were told to stay on the sidewalk and away from the cars.

    Example

    The city council recently allocated funds to repair the cracked sidewalks in the residential district to improve pedestrian safety.

    Usage

    In British English, this is called a 'pavement'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a high-frequency word in American English; learners should be aware that 'pavement' in the US often refers to the road surface itself.

    Pitfall
    I 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.

Origin

From side + walk.

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