excavation
noun
ex·ca·va·tion
ˌek-skə-ˈvā-shən 
1
: the action or process of excavating
2
: a cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping
excavational
adjective
ˌek-skə-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nəl
-shə-nᵊl
Examples of excavation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During the excavation, archaeologists uncovered the ruins of a bridge built and used by the Norman military at least 800 years ago, officials said.
—
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024
The skeletons were found on a 3.2-acre excavation site near Villedieu-sur-Indre in central France, about 150 miles south of Paris, according to a statement from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2024
Among the most valuable artifacts on display May 28 was a fourth-century Naxos silver coin depicting god of wine Dionysius that was looted from an illicit excavation site in Sicily before 2013 and smuggled to the United Kingdom.
—Nicole Winfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024
That year, under Elizabeth’s direction, the church’s men and women began around-the-clock work on an excavation site larger than six football fields.
—Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for excavation 
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024
The skeletons were found on a 3.2-acre excavation site near Villedieu-sur-Indre in central France, about 150 miles south of Paris, according to a statement from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2024
Among the most valuable artifacts on display May 28 was a fourth-century Naxos silver coin depicting god of wine Dionysius that was looted from an illicit excavation site in Sicily before 2013 and smuggled to the United Kingdom.
—Nicole Winfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024
That year, under Elizabeth’s direction, the church’s men and women began around-the-clock work on an excavation site larger than six football fields.
—Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for excavation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excavation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near excavation
Cite this Entry
“Excavation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavation. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
excavation
noun
ex·ca·va·tion
ˌek-skə-ˈvā-shən
1
: the act or process of excavating
2
: a hollowed-out place formed by excavating
Medical Definition
excavation
noun
ex·ca·va·tion
ˌek-skə-ˈvā-shən
1
: the action or process of excavating
2
: a cavity formed by or as if by cutting, digging, or scooping
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