excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər 

: 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

The company, founded in 1994, is among the world’s largest makers of construction machinery, producing excavators, cranes, road-building equipment and pile drivers. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025

An Egyptian team of experts entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday with several engineering vehicles, excavators, and other equipment to assist with locating the bodies. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2025

What To Know Egyptian machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, tore through rubble and debris in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis as part of efforts to recover hostages. —Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

Archaeologist Mechael Osband said the column drums were laid along a path in the village, which intrigued excavators. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excavator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Medical Definition

excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər 

: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them