berm

noun

ˈbərm 

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 highway …

—Norman Erickson

Examples of berm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Presidio is protected by a series of berms and levees built in the 1970s and 1980s along the Rio Grande and tributaries to combat flooding. — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Grucci fireworks are stored in magazines, which in Radford are cement-block structures hidden by earthen berms and heavy timber. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Make sure root balls are moist at planting and create berms at the edge to catch water. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026

Beach crews are continuously reinforcing the berm to keep the water out of homes and alleys. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 31 July 2026

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

Rhymes for berm

• ferm
• firm
• germ
• herm
• sperm
• squirm
• term
• therm
• worm
• wurm
• affirm
• bookworm

Kids Definition

berm

noun

ˈbərm 

: a shelf or path at the top or bottom of a slope

also : a mound or wall of earth