sidewalk

American  

[sahyd-wawk] / ˈsaɪdˌwɔk /

noun

1. a walk, especially a paved one, at the side of a street or road.

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sidewalk British  

/ ˈsaɪdˌwɔːk /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): pavement.  a hard-surfaced path for pedestrians alongside and a little higher than a road

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Etymology

Origin of sidewalk

First recorded in 1660–70; side ¹ + walk

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

Several protesters confronted law enforcement officers, who wore riot gear, before moving back to the sidewalk in front of the detention center.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

Now, when we approach kids crowding the sidewalk, a curbside puddle or a dog crouching to pee, I stop and extend my arm like Sir Walter Raleigh, offering Sarah the right of first passage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Smee thought about planting an oak tree instead but worried that a large tree might be too heavy for the retaining wall along the sidewalk, so he decided against it.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

On the sidewalk in front of the store: Well, that was another story.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

But Aunt Kate and I ignored it as we pressed in close together, arms entwined, and set off again down the busy sidewalk and into the red-tinged twilight toward the Barnum Hotel.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• boardwalk
• pavement
• walkway