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
Images aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed excavators clearing debris.
—
ABC News, 18 May 2026
They could be seen on video from CBS Texas Chopper digging in the yard with excavators and shovels, sifting through piles of dirt.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 14 May 2026
In one video posted to X on April 24 and geolocated by NBC News, two excavators can be seen destroying solar panels in the Christian border town of Debel, where a photo last month showed a soldier taking what appeared to be an axe to a statue of Jesus.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 13 May 2026
While Vanegas watched a Bobcat excavator swing at her home Tuesday, a car full of people from Indiana pulled up behind her and began scavenging for aluminum in the wreckage of homes.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for excavator
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
ABC News, 18 May 2026
They could be seen on video from CBS Texas Chopper digging in the yard with excavators and shovels, sifting through piles of dirt.
—Briauna Brown, CBS News, 14 May 2026
In one video posted to X on April 24 and geolocated by NBC News, two excavators can be seen destroying solar panels in the Christian border town of Debel, where a photo last month showed a soldier taking what appeared to be an axe to a statue of Jesus.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 13 May 2026
While Vanegas watched a Bobcat excavator swing at her home Tuesday, a car full of people from Indiana pulled up behind her and began scavenging for aluminum in the wreckage of homes.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for excavator
Cite this Entry
“Excavator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavator. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
