embankment

noun

em·​bank·​ment im-ˈbaŋk-mənt How to pronounce embankment (audio)
Synonyms of embankmentnext
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.
Officials said the scared dog ran and jumped over the railing and fell down the embankment. Adam Thompson, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 This 2-mile stretch of embankment once channeled 43,000 cars across the city daily, polluting the air and assailing landmarks such as the Louvre and the Pont Neuf with noise and vibration. Marie Patino, Bloomberg, 20 Mar. 2026 Even as change sweeps through Austin, many SXSW spots felt timeless — like the big public concerts at Lady Bird Lake, or the Red River venue Cheer Up Charlies, with its outdoor stage framed by a 30-foot-high limestone embankment, creating a cave-band vibe. Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026 Crews will build a temporary embankment to carry two lanes of motorists in each direction on I-35E over Shepard Road, according to the MnDOT. Kathryn Kovalenko, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Embankment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embankment. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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

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