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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:

A 79-year-old woman had driven a vehicle over a curb and hit a fence before plunging over a 20- to 25-foot embankment, according to KTLA.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 13, 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

A 2024 BMW M3 was eastbound on the two-lane highway that slopes downhill when the driver lost control, veering off-road and down a steep embankment, the CHP said.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 24, 2026

Two people have been taken to hospital after a bus crashed down an embankment on the A9 north of Aviemore.

From BBC Apr. 12, 2026

The four girls climbed to the top of the embankment back onto the road, and Anya pointed the way to the daisy field.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

"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

"The problem is if you start digging out embankments, which kingfishers use as their main habitats, they will completely avoid this area", he said.

From BBC Oct. 16, 2025

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 are carved out of the silt of the steep, nearly vertical embankments of the river near Crater Avenue in southwest Modesto.

From Seattle Times Feb. 10, 2024

Women in dresses of crimson and aquamarine walked slowly along the embankments.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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