excavator

noun

ex·ca·va·tor | \ ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər

Definition of excavator

: one that excavates especially : a power-operated shovel

Examples of excavator in a Sentence

The excavators found ancient tools at the site.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, workers had to use excavators and dump trucks to compact the debris below the new highway into an embankment. — Jim Carlton, WSJ, "As Big Sur Roadway Reopens, Businesses Eagerly Await Surge in Visitors," 18 July 2018 Police blow up excavators in southwestern Colombia, near the community of Barbacoas. — Jim Wyss And Kyra Gurney, miamiherald, "Dirty gold is the new cocaine in Colombia — and it’s just as bloody," 16 Jan. 2018 Eight large excavators were being used to clear the debris from Montecito Creek, Tom Fayram, the deputy director of the county's flood control district, said. — CBS News, "Southern California mudslides: 20 dead after crews recover body," 14 Jan. 2018 The new team of excavators is being trained under the expertise and tutelage of Marina Elliott and Becca Peixotto. — Lydia Pyne, Ars Technica, "Rising Star found a new species—now it wants to find a new way for paleoanthropology," 20 Dec. 2018 Over the course of the first field season, all of the excavators—underground astronauts, a term the media seized on—took turns on shift. — Lydia Pyne, Ars Technica, "Rising Star found a new species—now it wants to find a new way for paleoanthropology," 20 Dec. 2018 One day late last week, 19 bulldozers, four road graders, six excavators and about a dozen water tenders were assigned to make repairs at the Mendocino Complex Fire, Meyers said. — Jonathan J. Cooper, Fox News, "Firefighting mars the earth. California crews are fixing it," 15 Aug. 2018 The teams and one excavator arrived after dark Tuesday to investigate. — Todd Pitman, The Seattle Times, "In quake-hit Indonesia, a challenge to recover the dead," 7 Aug. 2018 President Rodrigo Duterte was present in Manila recently as over 100 Vespa scooters, a Harley-Davidson and and several other motorcycles and SUVs were destroyed by an excavator. — Gary Gastelu, Fox News, "Philippine government crushes over 100 illegally-imported motorcycles," 13 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'excavator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.