levees

plural of levee
1
2
as in docks
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers we tied the boat up at the levee and started unloading the fish we had caught

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of levees The new levees will replace old dirt berms that are 6 to 10 feet high. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 In 1907, Grand Island levees were raised after a flood. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 20 Sep. 2025 As levees erupted, storm waters easily flowed in. Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 But when the levees failed, thousands of people were trapped inside as supplies dwindled and conditions deteriorated quickly. Sarah Alegre, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025 In addition to subsidies, there were millions more to clean up flood debris, shore up the levees, and fix roads and drainage systems. Molly Parker, ProPublica, 4 Sep. 2025 And even before the storm made landfall, the levees protecting New Orleans began to fail, overwhelmed by heavy rain and massive storm surges. Reena Advani, NPR, 1 Sep. 2025 Soon thereafter, multiple levees and floodwalls failed. Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The levees, meant to hold back the surging waters, failed catastrophically. Mandi Wright, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for levees
Noun
  • Along the way, visitors may spot signs of the sanctuary’s most visible resident, the beaver, from impressive dams to cleverly constructed dens and lodges, as well as birds such as the snow goose, lapland longspur, and chimney swift.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The researchers cite warming temperatures as the primary contributor to river heat waves, but also say agriculture and the building of dams play roles as well.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Loewe’s fluid, automotive exterior also creates a unique impression on the bustling docks in Port Hercule.
    Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, leader of the pack, has been training alongside amphibious transport docks USS Fort Lauderdale and USS San Antonio, all carrying MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
    Shane Croucher John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Family, friends and spectators line the embankments, looking down from pedestrian bridges and the underpasses, holding up signs and cheering.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Scruton and his team had a weekend to remove the trees, mud, dirt and embankments.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The infrastructure humans build in the water ‒ houses, piers, wharves, jetties, and even oil rigs ‒ create new habitats for juvenile jellyfish, called polyps, to attach and grow, Bologna said.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Preparation guidance from the NWS includes avoiding not just swimming, but also staying off piers and other shoreline structures that may be subject to unexpected waves or currents.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Once an area is designated as protected, the construction of any new ports, piers or pipelines — anything that would disrupt the natural course of the waves — is prohibited.
    Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Seaports will have nearby seabed dredged and quays constructed to accommodate naval and transport vessels.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Levees.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/levees. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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