1 C1 neutral
To construct a dyke or embankment to hold back or redirect water.
"The local authority dyked up the riverbank to prevent seasonal flooding in the village."
separable
dyke up
C1 neutral separable transitive
To build or reinforce a dyke in order to contain or redirect water.
In plain English
To put up a wall or bank of earth to stop water from flooding an area.
What does "dyke up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To strengthen or raise an existing dyke so it can better resist water pressure.
"After the near-flood last winter, they spent the summer dyking up the weakest sections of the sea wall."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To build up a dyke (an earthen wall or embankment used to control water).
Actually means
To put up a wall or bank of earth to stop water from flooding an area.
Usage tip
Technical term used mainly in civil engineering, hydrology, and agriculture. More prevalent in British and Dutch English. Virtually absent from everyday conversation.
Words that pair with "dyke up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
river coast bank shoreline embankment channel
How to conjugate "dyke up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
dyke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dykes up
he/she/it
Past simple
dyked up
yesterday
Past participle
dyked up
have + pp
-ing form
dyking up
continuous
Hear "dyke up" in the wild
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