sidewalk
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sidewalk
Explanation
A sidewalk is a paved path for walking, often alongside a road. If your neighborhood has sidewalks, it's easier and safer to take a little jog. While English speakers in other parts of the world might use words like footpath or pavement instead, North Americans typically use sidewalk. Most sidewalks are slightly higher than the street and are often separated from them by a curb or a strip of grass. There is some historical evidence that Ancient Greece had sidewalks, though the word itself dates from about 1740.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s illegal for a parent to play catch on the sidewalk with a child in front of their home, said Blumenfield, who represents the southwest San Fernando Valley.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
So much so that on his 15th birthday last Saturday , the sidewalk outside her downtown Long Beach store where he spends most of his time transformed into a makeshift fair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
WSJ | Buy Side: The best beach bags include durable, waterproof picks as well as chic options that transition from sand to sidewalk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
OJM devotes a considerable share of its content to Costco-related high-jinks, and even hosted a chicken-eating contest that drew hundreds of strangers to a sidewalk in Park Slope last month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Mrs. Pritchett waves as we head back down the sidewalk.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
A seemingly endless network of roads unfurls in a massive grid, generally without sidewalks, curbs or landscaping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Camps for families left homeless have sprung up in stadiums, plazas and on sidewalks.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
"It was also a much bigger job than originally envisioned, including the outer areas and sidewalks."
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Some even referenced local causes, such as the “Boo Boo Bandage Brigade for Safe Streets,” which advocated for fixing sidewalks and increasing accessibility Downtown.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026
Besides, everything is far away and there aren’t any sidewalks or buses.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
