1
: a narrow shelf, path, or ledge typically at the top or bottom of a slope
also : a mound or wall of earth or sand
a landscaped berm
2
: the shoulder of a road
deer … feeding on the berm of the highwayNorman Erickson

Examples of berm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Patrick Bailey followed with a walk, and J.D. Davis cleared the bases with his second home run of the spring, sending a 2-2 breaking ball onto the berm in left field. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Although the Forest Service blocked some roads with gates and berms to protect wildlife, poachers and all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts broke locks or circumvented these cursory barriers. Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 For example, dwarf types are lovely for foundation plantings, berms, low borders, or assembled at the foot of taller plants, such as glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum). Steve Bender, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2024 The new facility is expected to include enhance fan amenities for training camp, including a grassy berm for seating plus seats within the indoor practice field. Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Supporters say if the railroad is built, the quarry will move its operation farther from houses, trains will reduce trucks on roads and the railroad will build berms to shield residents. Jeff Amy, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023 Along the northwest route, Israeli troops appear to have stopped on the outskirts of the Shati refugee camp, around three miles from the heart of the city, and have demolished buildings and plowed sand berms to stake out staging areas. Dylan Moriarty, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2023 Vehicles with cracked windshields and bullet holes line the roadside, their contents disgorged along the berms. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2023 Some residents had returned in recent weeks, as the government worked to build a kilometers-long berm in an attempt to protect the town from future eruptions. Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'berm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French berme, from Dutch berm strip of ground along a dike; akin to Middle English brimme brim

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of berm was in 1693

Dictionary Entries Near berm

Cite this Entry

“Berm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

berm

noun
: a shelf or path at the top or bottom of a slope
also : a mound or wall of earth

More from Merriam-Webster on berm

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