embankment
Americannoun
-
a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back water, carry a roadway, etc.
-
the action of embanking.
noun
Etymology
Origin of embankment
Vocabulary lists containing embankment
"The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket," Vocabulary from the short story
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Part 1 Vocabulary (Unit 4)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Papoli, 58, of Newport Beach, was found dead Nov. 18 about 75 feet down a steep embankment near Highway 138 and Crestline Road, in the mountain town of Crestline, officials reported.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026
Some of the carriages had tumbled down an embankment of four metres, Sanz said at his press conference.
From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026
New aerial footage shows the extent of damage to the Llangollen Canal and its embankment in Whitchurch, Shropshire, caused by a breach on 22 December.
From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026
And snow can obscure the trail entirely, he said — “you think you’re stepping on solid ground and, literally, your whole body drops all the way down to your chest” or, worse, down an embankment.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025
I hold out my hand and lead her up the embankment and down the hill to a wide, round pool of blue water, ringed by trees.
From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven
![]()
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.