Definition

Adjective: Not having a paved surface; lacking a hard, smooth covering of materials like asphalt, concrete, or stone.

Usage

The adjective "unpaved" is used to describe a road, path, or area whose surface is made of natural materials like dirt, gravel, or grass, rather than being covered with a manufactured, solid layer. It often implies a rougher, more primitive, or less developed condition.

Examples

• The cabin is located at the end of a long, unpaved road.
• We turned off the highway onto an unpaved track that led into the forest.
• The parking lot was mostly unpaved, just a field of compacted dirt.
• Many rural areas still rely on unpaved roads for local travel.

Advanced Usage

• "unpaved surface": A common collocation emphasizing the type of ground.
  • The vehicle is designed to handle both paved and unpaved surfaces.
• "remain unpaved": Used to describe a state that has been intentionally or economically left without paving.
  • To preserve its rustic character, the village's main street has remained unpaved.

Variants and Related Words

• Unpaved is the standard adjective. Its opposite is paved.
  • The city promised to convert the unpaved alley into a paved one.
• Unsurfaced: A more technical synonym, often used in engineering contexts.
• Dirt road / Gravel road: Specific compound nouns describing types of unpaved roads.

Synonyms

• Unsurfaced
• Gravel (when used attributively, e.g., a gravel driveway)
• Dirt (when used attributively, e.g., a dirt path)

Antonyms

• Paved
• Surfaced
• Tarmacked / Asphalted

Adjective

1. not having a paved surface