to-pave-the-way
/tə peɪv ðə weɪ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
to make it easier for something to happen later. It often means you create the conditions for a future change, success, or action.
- Her research paved the way for new treatments.
- The talks paved the way for peace.
- This law paved the way for fairer hiring.
Adinary Nuance
Pave the way is stronger than simply 'help' or 'assist'. It means your action makes a later result possible or much easier. Writers choose it when they want to show that one step leads directly to another important step. It is common in formal writing, especially in news and academic English.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mở đường cho
- Spanish
- allanar el camino para
- Chinese
- 为……铺平道路
- Japanese
- 道を開く
- Korean
- 길을 열다
Etymology
The phrase comes from the literal idea of paving a road so travel becomes easier. It developed in English as a figurative expression in the 1800s.
Common phrases
pave the way forpave the way tohelp pave the way
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is "pave the way" formal or informal?
- It is neutral to formal. You will often see it in news, essays, and business writing.
- What is the difference between "pave the way" and "lead to"?
- Pave the way means something makes a later result easier or possible. Lead to simply means one thing results in another.
- Can I use "pave the way" in IELTS Writing?
- Yes. It is a good phrase for academic and formal answers.
- Do I need "for" after "pave the way"?
- Usually yes: "pave the way for something." Sometimes "to" is also used.