shovel

1 of 2

noun

shov·​el ˈshə-vəl 

1

a

: a hand implement consisting of a broad scoop or a more or less hollowed out blade with a handle used to lift and throw material

b

: something that resembles a shovel

c

: an excavating machine

especially : a hydraulic diesel-engine driven power shovel

2

: shovelful

shovel

2 of 2

verb

shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling ˈshə-və-liŋ 

ˈshəv-liŋ

transitive verb

1

: to take up and throw with a shovel

2

: to dig or clean out with a shovel

3

: to throw or convey roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel

shoveled his food into his mouth

intransitive verb

: to use a shovel

Synonyms

Verb

• dig
• excavate

Examples of shovel in a Sentence

Verb

He is outside shoveling snow.

I have to shovel the driveway.

I had to shovel for an hour to clear the driveway.

The snow was so deep we had to shovel a path to our front door.

Stop shoveling food into your mouth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Instead of one, there were essentially 12 separate ceremonial turnings-over of dirt with shovels to mark the occasion. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 24 June 2025

Volunteers are welcome to bring shovels, spades, loppers, hatchets and clippers. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025

Verb

Adding insult to injury, the state instead continues to shovel millions of dollars toward health care programs for undocumented immigrants — including at least $12 billion in the Legislature’s budget — while underfunding services Californians are paying for and counting on. —Diane Dixon, Oc Register, 18 June 2025

The highway was shut down for nearly 14 hours as crews shoveled, hand-picked, and vacuumed the loose coins from the road and nearby brush. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scofl; akin to Old High German scūfla shovel, Old English scūfan to thrust away

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing shovel

• pick-and-shovel
• power shovel
• shovel hat
• shovel-nosed
• shovel pass
• shovel-ready
• steam shovel

Rhymes for shovel

• hovel

Kids Definition

shovel

1 of 2 noun

shov·​el ˈshəv-əl 

1

: a broad scoop with a handle used for lifting and throwing loose material (as dirt or snow)

2

: shovelful

shovel

2 of 2 verb

shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling

ˈshəv-(ə-)liŋ

1

: to lift and throw with a shovel

shovel snow

2

: to dig or clean out with a shovel

shovel out the sheep pens

3

: to throw or carry roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel

stop shoveling the food into your mouth