Meaning & use
kerb
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableBritish
The raised edge of stone or concrete along the side of a road, separating it from the pavement.
Grammar: Countable: you can talk about one kerb or several kerbs.
Patterns
- park at the kerb
- step off the kerb
- hit the kerb
She parked the car close to the kerb.
He tripped on the kerb and dropped his shopping.
The children were told to wait at the kerb before crossing.
Word forms
| plural | kerbs |
|---|
Common combinations
- park at the kerb
- It's illegal to park at the kerb here.
- step off the kerb
- Look both ways before you step off the kerb.
- hit the kerb
- The taxi hit the kerb and burst a tyre.
- kerbside
- The kerbside was lined with bins.
Synonyms and how they differ
- curb
- American spelling and pronunciation of the same thing; use curb in US English.
- pavement edge
- A descriptive phrase, not a single word; less common than kerb.
Word family
- kerbside noun
- The area right next to the kerb.
Commonly confused: kerb or curb?
kerb vs curb
In British English curb is mainly a verb meaning 'control or limit'; the edge of the road is kerb. In American English both are curb.
Practice
Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?
Choose one answer.
In British English the raised edge of the pavement is spelled kerb, so 'by the kerb' is correct. 'Curb' is the American spelling for the edge, and 'kerb side' is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kerb”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.