embankment

noun

em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt How to pronounce embankment (audio)
1
: a raised structure (as of earth or gravel) used especially to hold back water or to carry a roadway
2
: the action of embanking

Examples of embankment in a Sentence

the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The front of the school bus, meanwhile, was entangled with a tree in the embankment, the body of the bus tilted completely to one side. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025 Three years ago this week, Hardy was on his way back from a concert in Bristol, Tennessee, when his tour bus careened off the road and rolled down an embankment. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 The video shows her car mostly submerged after rolling down an embankment into a pond located at Lakeview Cemetery. Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 29 Sep. 2025 Officers found the bodies of the three missing girls about 75 to 100 yards past the vehicle, down a small embankment, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for embankment

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embankment was in 1786

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Embankment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embankment. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

embankment

noun
em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt How to pronounce embankment (audio)
: a raised bank or wall to carry a roadway, prevent floods, or hold back water

More from Merriam-Webster on embankment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!