What does pave mean?
Pave means to cover a surface with stone, brick, concrete, asphalt, or another hard material, making it suitable for walking, driving, or other use. It is commonly transitive: workers pave a road, a path, or a courtyard, and the resulting surface is described as paved. The expression “pave the way” extends the word metaphorically: it refers to removing obstacles or preparing conditions so that a person, decision, or development can occur more easily. Pave is used in both British and American English and is generally neutral in tone. Although the basic verb is common in both varieties, the related noun meaning a single paving stone is chiefly British. Related forms include paver, someone or something that lays paving, and paving, the material or work used to create a hard surface.
To cover a surface with paving stones, bricks, concrete, asphalt, or similar material; figuratively, to make something easier or more possible.
"They paved the courtyard with pale sandstone."
Often used transitively or in the passive. The idiomatic figurative phrase is “pave the way for” something.
A paving stone; a block or slab used to form a paved surface.
"The old wall was built from local paves."
Chiefly British. In American English, “paving stone” or “paver” is more usual.
The regular plural of the chiefly British noun meaning paving stones.
"The path was edged with paves laid in a zigzag pattern."
From literally flattening stones into a path to figuratively opening the way for change, “pave” has long been about making travel—and progress—possible.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pave come from?
The word comes through Middle English from Old French paver, meaning “to pave,” ultimately from Latin pavire, “to tread or beat flat.” The literal sense developed from preparing a surface by laying down and flattening stones. English later extended the verb figuratively to the idea of making a future course easier or possible.
Related word forms
How pave is actually used
As a verb, pave is normally transitive and often appears in the passive construction, as in “the street was paved.” It is neutral in register and can describe both literal surfaces and metaphorical developments. The noun use is chiefly British; American speakers more often say “paving stone” or “paver.”