retaining wall

American  

noun

1. a wall for holding in place a mass of earth or the like, as at the edge of a terrace or excavation.

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retaining wall British  

noun

1. Also called: revetment.  a wall constructed to hold back earth, loose rock, etc

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Etymology

Origin of retaining wall

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

retaining wall

A fossil dating back 240 million years has finally been formally identified after spending decades hidden inside a retaining wall.

From Science Daily ● May 6, 2026

Smee thought about planting an oak tree instead but worried that a large tree might be too heavy for the retaining wall along the sidewalk, so he decided against it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

The bridge at Kilrea closed in September after cracking was found in a retaining wall and reopened to cars and other light vehicles on 6 December after temporary repairs.

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025

They ran, some barefoot in the mud, up a steep hill beyond the property’s retaining wall.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2025

Witnesses say the car, driven by Andrew Jackson, 17, also of the Hazelwood team, had been noticeably weaving across the lanes of the expressway just before it hit a retaining wall and burst into flames.

From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper