embankment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "embankment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a raised structure, often made of earth or stone, that is built to hold back water or support a roadway. Example: "The river overflowed its banks, but the embankment held strong, preventing flooding in the nearby town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The taxi went out of control and crashed into an embankment.

The Guardian

Five years ago, to take a walk along the embankment of the Moscow river, south-west of the Kremlin, would have been a miserable affair – through the depressing, weed-strewn expanse of Gorky Park, navigating pot-holed roads and dodging stray dogs.

The Guardian

"During the Soviet period, all the finances for the city came from the state; there were no other ways of financing urban development," said Evgeny Asse, a leading Moscow architect who worked in the city planning bureau in the 1980s and who took part in many projects during the Kapkov years, including work on parts of the Moscow river embankment.

The Guardian

In London a genuine first world war veteran, HMS President, which was dazzle-painted in the war and is now a party ship moored on the Thames embankment, will dazzle again.

The Guardian

I clamber over a rickety stile into the sunshine, and find myself standing on the long, broad, grassy embankment of the ancient Roman road.

The Guardian

In the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s, London invested massively in sewers under the Thames embankment, to avoid cholera epidemics, and in the social housing movement.

The Economist

Since 2001, engineers have submitted more than ten proposals for embankment projects, worth 400m takas ($6m), to the finance ministry in Dhaka.

The Economist

A Land Rover towing a car on a trailer slipped off a motorway in the dark and wet, down an embankment and on to the railway track.

The Economist

Yet, the centre of the city from Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), known as Maidan, at the bottom of the Khreshatik, the main drag, all the way up to the high embankment of the Dnepr river was surrounded by the police.Tension varied from one street to another street from one hour to next.

The Economist

Koizumi's 14.7-metre wall will cost ¥230m, replacing an embankment built after an earlier tsunami.

The Economist

Locals say no one can live there unless an embankment is repaired before the onset of the monsoon, due any day now.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about infrastructure or geographical features, use "embankment" to specifically denote a raised structure designed for containment or support. Consider the context to decide if a more specific term like "levee" or "retaining wall" would be more accurate.

Common error

Avoid using "embankment" to describe naturally occurring features like hills or ridges. "Embankment" refers specifically to man-made structures.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "embankment" is as a noun. It denotes a specific type of structure. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across numerous examples, where "embankment" serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a physical entity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

37%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "embankment" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun that refers to a raised structure designed to retain earth or water. Ludwig AI analysis of numerous examples confirms its validity and versatility. It appears most commonly in news, encyclopedia articles, and scientific writing, making it suitable for both general and technical contexts. While synonyms like "levee" or "retaining wall" exist, "embankment" provides a general term for these structures. Remember to avoid using it for natural formations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Levee

A levee is a natural or artificial embankment designed to prevent flooding.

Dyke

Dyke is a term for an embankment used to control or hold back water, especially in low-lying areas.

Retaining wall

Retaining wall is a wall built to hold back earth or water.

Sea wall

Sea wall is a wall built to protect the coast from erosion or flooding.

Flood barrier

Flood barrier is a structure that prevents or controls flooding.

Earthwork

Earthwork generally refers to an artificial embankment or excavation in the earth.

Causeway

A causeway is a raised road or track across low or wet ground or water.

Raised bank

A simple descriptive term referring to an elevated bank of earth or other material.

Terrace

Terrace refers to a leveled platform of earth, often one of a series.

Rampart

A rampart is a defensive bank of earth or stone built around a castle or fort.

FAQs

How is "embankment" used in a sentence?

You can use "embankment" to describe a structure built to hold back water or support a road, as in "The river overflowed, but the "embankment" prevented the town from flooding".

What are some synonyms for "embankment"?

Alternatives include "levee", "dyke", or "retaining wall" depending on the context. Each carries slightly different connotations regarding the purpose and material of the structure.

Is "embankment" the same as a dam?

While both control water, an "embankment" is generally a long, raised structure, whereas a dam ("dam") is a barrier built across a waterway to block or regulate its flow.

In what contexts is the word "embankment" most commonly used?

The word "embankment" is frequently used in contexts related to civil engineering, flood control, and geographical descriptions, often appearing in news reports or encyclopedia articles about these topics.