embankment
Americannoun
-
a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back water, carry a roadway, etc.
-
the action of embanking.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of embankment
Vocabulary lists containing embankment
"The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket," Vocabulary from the short story
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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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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.