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

Kosin and his family lifted their belongings once they saw the water level was higher than the canal retaining wall, but their ground floor was still left soaked.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

The extensively engineered retaining wall and thoughtful landscaping transformed the property into a series of expansive outdoor living spaces designed for entertaining, decompressing, and fully embracing the indoor-outdoor lifestyle.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

The specimen was first uncovered by a retired chicken farmer, who had sourced rocks from a nearby quarry to build a garden retaining wall.

From Science Daily ● May 6, 2026

According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní on Tuesday evening.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026

I sat on the retaining wall and watched her walk away.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge