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Synonyms

embankment

American  
[em-bangk-muhnt] / ɛmˈbæŋk mənt /

noun

  • embankments
    plural
  1. a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back water, carry a roadway, etc.

  2. the action of embanking.


embankment British  
/ ɪmˈbæŋkmənt /

noun

  1. a man-made ridge of earth or stone that carries a road or railway or confines a waterway See also levee 1

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of embankment

First recorded in 1780–90; embank + -ment

Vocabulary lists containing embankment

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:

One section of the embankment near the al-Mawasi camp is more than 1.5km beyond where the Yellow Line was originally mapped.

From BBC Jul. 30, 2026

A woman testified that she saw Stout get out of the flaming car and push it over the dirt mound, where it rolled down the embankment and ignited the dry vegetation at the bottom.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 25, 2026

Hundreds began running down the grassy embankment on the west side of the Washington monument shouting "Charge!" and temporarily overwhelming security forces.

From Barron's Jul. 5, 2026

Shoemaker swerved right off the 210 and rolled his Ford Bronco down the embankment, about three stories high, and onto the 57 freeway.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 26, 2026

I hopped down the back of the truck and lurched to the dusty embankment on the side of the road.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

However, significant damage has been caused to the highway, with mud, silt, debris and other obstructions continuing to block access, and also ongoing safety concerns relating to both the road and the surrounding embankments.

From BBC Jul. 31, 2026

The founder of intelligence analysis firm MAIAR, Tony Reeves, analysed satellite images and estimated that one section of the embankments in Gaza was up to 7m tall.

From BBC Jul. 30, 2026

"Due to the impact of persistent heavy rainfall and the prolonged passage of floodwaters at high levels, the safety of reservoirs and embankments in the affected areas faces a severe test," he said.

From Barron's Jul. 7, 2026

SAR allows researchers to inspect and characterize pavements, retaining walls, and embankments from space and can help determine if there are flaws that should be further inspected for repair, saving valuable time.

From Science Daily Jun. 6, 2024

They walked along the granite embankments of the Neva, past the magnificent Admiralty building and its proud white columns, its countless statues and friezes depicting figures from myths and ancient times.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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