backhoe

noun

back·​hoe ˈbak-ˌhō 

: an excavating machine having a bucket that is attached to a rigid bar hinged to a boom and that is drawn toward the machine in operation

Examples of backhoe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, crews with backhoes were dispatched in late May as part of an emergency clean-up after residents complained of strong smells of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which can affect a person’s respiratory system. —Danica Coto, Christian Science Monitor, 4 June 2025

For downtown to get its flow back, the backhoes and construction equipment need to go, which should happen around Labor Day weekend. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025

Rescue teams used a backhoe and dug 3 to 4 feet down to reach the pipe, then used sledgehammers to break open the pipe. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025

This set includes a front loader, dump truck, bulldozer, excavator, and backhoe, and yes, there is a difference. —Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backhoe

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

backhoe

noun

back·​hoe -ˌhō 

: a large machine that digs into the earth with a metal scoop drawn toward the machine