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Definition of excavate
excavated
;excavating
transitive verb
1 : to form a cavity or hole in
2 : to form by hollowing out
3 : to dig out and remove
4 : to expose to view by or as if by digging away a covering excavate the remains of a temple
intransitive verb
: to make excavations
From the M-W Editors
Examples of excavate in a Sentence
They excavated an ancient city.
It is the first site to be excavated in this area.
They began excavating the backyard for their new pool.
The excess dirt was carefully excavated.
Recent Examples of excavate from the Web
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For political fundraisers, California has long been the Big Rock Candy Mountain, excavated, mined and, ultimately, shafted by candidates of both parties who use the boodle to run for president in Iowa or New Hampshire, or Congress in East Podunk.
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The proof of a thriving village and trading post is found in the ponds where the clay for bricks were once excavated.
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Sakiagak turned to digging out the igloo's interior, leaving a platform at the original level of the surface while excavating the rest.
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On Tuesday afternoon, private contractors who were excavating the empty lot at 17th and Atlantic Streets saw possible human remains and contacted a supervisor, who called 911, police said.
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Leger hopped to it, hoping to excavate the bone and safeguarding it with a covering of burlap and plaster.
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Zone 1, where the West Calumet complex is located, has been excavated, officials said.
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Unable to let go of his hunch, Hublin started periodically excavating at Jebel Irhoud in the 1980s.
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Only about half has been excavated because the remainder extends under a neighboring building.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'excavate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of excavate
Latin excavatus, past participle of excavare, from ex- + cavare to make hollow — more at cavatina
EXCAVATE Defined for English Language Learners
excavate
playDefinition of excavate for English Language Learners
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: to uncover (something) by digging away and removing the earth that covers it
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: to dig a large hole in (something)
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: to form (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by digging
EXCAVATE Defined for Kids
excavate
playDefinition of excavate for Students
excavated
;excavating
1 : to expose to view by digging away a covering They've excavated an ancient city.
2 : to hollow out : form a hole in Workers excavated the side of a hill.
3 : to make by hollowing out We must excavate a tunnel.
4 : to dig out and remove Miners excavate diamonds.
Medical Dictionary
excavate
playMedical Definition of excavate
excavated
;excavating
transitive verb
: to form a cavity or hole in an excavated wisdom toothintransitive verb
: to make excavations or become hollowed out an area of infarction in soft tissue often tends to excavate
Learn More about excavate
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See words that rhyme with excavate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for excavate Spanish Central: Translation of excavate Nglish: Translation of excavate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of excavate for Arabic speakers
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