shovel

noun

shov·el | \ˈshə-vəl

Definition of shovel

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

verb

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

ˈshəv-liŋ \

Definition of shovel (Entry 2 of 2)

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 More Example Sentences Learn More about shovel

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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

Resnick started with a budget of $2,000, using shovels to work her one-thirteenth of an acre. — Sarah Meehan, Washington Post, "A training program for new farmers is teaching its biggest class yet," 30 June 2018 On Tuesday, firefighters from multiple agencies cut down trees with chainsaws, sprayed water and used shovels to create a firebreak to keep the fire from reaching multimillion-dollar homes. — Joseph Serna, latimes.com, "Evacuation orders lifted as firefighters control Beverly Crest brush fire, caused by weed wacker," 13 June 2018 The workers use shovels to fling the clay across the court’s surface, then compress the layers with several different types of rollers. — New York Times, "Masters of the Courts," 25 May 2018 Then there was more work afterward, with the draining of the tarp and anyone with a shovel or rake pitching in to get the field and bullpens usable. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "Midland Redskins pitch in to help Harrison coach Shawn Sowders," 22 June 2018 On Sunday, firefighters canvassed Goleta’s hillside neighborhoods with shovels, looking for remaining hot spots. — Andrea Castillo, latimes.com, "'I have happy tears,' Goleta resident says after finding his home survived destructive wildfire," 9 July 2018 Resnick started with a budget of $2,000, using shovels to work her one-thirteenth of an acre. — Sarah Meehan, baltimoresun.com, "A training program for new farmers is teaching its biggest class yet," 28 June 2018 Volunteers showed up to the shores of the Ohio River for the Ohio River Sweep 2018 armed with shovels and a mission. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Here are the treasures found during the Covington river sweep," 22 June 2018 Fortunately, thanks to the fortitude of some local residents who came to the rescue armed with shovels and axes, the area was brought back to its original splendor, according to CNN. — Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian, "North America’s Most Spectacular Waterfalls," 18 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The team was wiping down a table and chairs and shoveling away the upper portion of the dirt and gravel ground surface. — Max Londberg, kansascity, "'You could see bullets flying': Video, witness depict downtown KC police shooting," 15 June 2018 The family spent more than a month shoveling out about a foot of dirt, debris and grime that flooded the basement of their store. — Christal Hayes, USA TODAY, "In flood-hammered Ellicott City, Md., the question lingers: Do you rebuild once more?," 29 May 2018 What would have taken my neighbor at least 30 minutes of grueling labor to shovel took us 10 minutes of brisk but painless cardio. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, "Wovel Snow Wolf makes snow shoveling exercise faster, easier, safer: Stretching Out," 12 Mar. 2018 The labor done in the Colonies is intended to restore the polluted land back to Eden (as if that could actually happen through shoveling, but okay). — refinery29.com, "Meet Commander Lawrence, The Most Destabilizing Presence On The Handmaid's Tale," 10 July 2018 He had been discovered while shoveling manure at a riding academy in return for being allowed to ride. — Aljean Harmetz, BostonGlobe.com, "Tab Hunter, 86, Hollywood heartthrob in 1950s," 10 July 2018 He had been discovered while shoveling manure at a riding academy in return for being allowed to ride. — Aljean Harmetz, New York Times, "Tab Hunter, 86, 1950s Hollywood Heartthrob, Is Dead," 9 July 2018 People also like to eat, especially in the office where shoveling things in their mouths can serve as a convenient distraction from working on that spreadsheet ... or writing that story. — Lindsey Bever, chicagotribune.com, "Why you should probably stop snacking at work," 14 June 2018 Just after Columbus' Thomas Vanek knocked the puck out of the blue paint with his glove, Kuznetsov shoveled the carom from the right boards out to Wilson, who connected from above the circle at 6:16. — Mitch Stacy, baltimoresun.com, "No overtime necessary as Capitals defeat Blue Jackets, 4-1, to even series at two games each," 19 Apr. 2018

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