shovel

play

noun shov·el \ ˈshə-vəl \

Definition of shovel

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

See shovel defined for English-language learners

See shovel defined for kids

Recent Examples of shovel from the Web

There will also be a need for flat shovels, garden rakes, wheelbarrows, fans, heavy duty extension cords, leather gloves, nitrile (not latex) gloves, and disposable Tyvek coveralls.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Hurricane Harvey: Alabama relief efforts underway; how and where to donate," 29 Aug. 2017
Lewiston, Maine (AP) -- Northeasterners, keep your mittens, boots and show shovel handy.

— Bloomberg.com, "Almanac: Plenty of Cold, Snow for This Winter for Northeast," 13 Aug. 2017
City dignitaries and others gathered at the corner of 167th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond's Woodmar section and celebrated by putting their shovels in the dirt.

— michelle l. quinn, Post-Tribune, "Hammond breaks ground on Woodmar sports complex," 11 Aug. 2017
Shortly after 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, after private native prayers and ceremonies, an Army team put the first shovel to the earth, beginning what’s expected to be a five-day process of exhuming the three boys.

— jeff gammage, Philly.com, "Army begins unearthing remains of children who died at Carlisle Indian school," 8 Aug. 2017
A woman hit a juvenile in the face and struck the child in the arm with a shovel.

— Washington Post, "Crime report for Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties," 19 July 2017
Workers first dug their shovels into the ground to start the construction of the ditch in 1817.

— brian alexander, The Atlantic, "Privatization Is Changing America's Relationship With Its Physical Stuff," 12 July 2017
Do your math on the back of a coal shovel, the way Abraham Lincoln did.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "The Bathroom Police Forgot to Run the Government," 6 July 2017
Chancellor James Schmidt and Kimera Way, president of UW-Eau Claire's private fundraising foundation and executive director of university advancement, were among two dozen VIPs with ceremonial shovels and hardhats that day.

— karen herzog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Eau Claire is more than Eaux Claires: It's home to millennials," 1 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of shovel

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

shovel

verb

Definition of shovel

shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling play \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

See shovel defined for English-language learners

Examples of shovel in a Sentence

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 of shovel from the Web

Pigeon droppings (the legend is 19 tons) and porn mags were shoveled out with fallen plaster.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "Remembering Folly Theater’s tasseled burlesque past," 19 Aug. 2017
By Friday evening, fragrant smoke was drifting across the grounds as workers doused sauce on huge slabs of mutton and pork that would cook overnight over hot coals shoveled in by a brigade of volunteers.

— deborah yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Fancy Farm: Prayer, pork and get ready for the political put-downs," 5 Aug. 2017
Members of the Jaguars’ front office have been shoveling piles of free-agency cash and draft capital into the team’s defense like boiler men feeding coal into the steam engine of an old locomotive.

— pat fitzmaurice, SI.com, "Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Football 2017 Preview: Is Fournette Worth the Risk?," 2 Aug. 2017
And after a long day of feedings, cleaning, and shoveling poop, the chance to toss around a toy isn’t just fun for the animals, said Barlet, another zookeeper.

— nicole blanchard, idahostatesman, "What keeps Zoo Boise’s lions purring? Blood popsicles and Victoria’s Secret perfume," 2 Aug. 2017
Kneeling, the men shoveled the remaining bits of dirt into the holes with their hands and placed a gravestone at the top.

— andrew katz, TIME.com, "‘My mind will stay there forever’," 17 July 2017
This is perhaps the most significant tell: There is no reason to make a tax cut on capital gains/dividends *retroactive* unless your purpose is to shovel money to rich people.

— brian beutler, New Republic, "Here’s proof that the secret Republican “health care” bill is really a millionaire tax cut bill.," 22 June 2017
This is perhaps the most significant tell: There is no reason to make a tax cut on capital gains/dividends *retroactive* unless your purpose is to shovel money to rich people.

— brian beutler, New Republic, "Here’s proof that the secret Republican “health care” bill is really a millionaire tax cut bill.," 22 June 2017
Two other neighbors, Dwayne Lee and Gambrell, said Murray would regularly shovel the snow, mow the lawn and take out the trash.

— jennifer dixon, Detroit Free Press, "Detroiter sues, says his lifelong home demolished in ambush-style eviction," 18 June 2017

First Known Use of shovel

15th century

shovel Synonyms

Synonyms

excavate, dig

Related Words

dredge; burrow, claw, grub; dig in; scoop, spade; delve; mine, quarry

Near Antonyms

fill (in); smooth (out or over)

SHOVEL Defined for English Language Learners

shovel

play

noun

Definition of shovel for English Language Learners

: a tool with a long handle that is used for lifting and throwing dirt, sand, snow, etc.
: the part of a machine (such as a backhoe) that picks up and moves dirt, sand, snow, etc.

shovel

verb

Definition of shovel for English Language Learners

: to lift and throw (dirt, sand, snow, etc.) with a shovel
: to remove snow from (a sidewalk, driveway, etc.) with a shovel
: to create (a path) by removing snow with a shovel

SHOVEL Defined for Kids

shovel

play

noun shov·el \ ˈshə-vəl \

Definition of shovel for Students

1 :a tool with a long handle and broad scoop used to lift and throw loose material (as dirt or snow)

2 :as much as a shovel will hold

a shovel of sand

shovel

verb

Definition of shovel for Students

shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling

1 :to lift or throw with a shovel

shovel snow

2 :to dig or clean out with a shovel

I shoveled out the sheep pens.

3 :to move large amounts of into something quickly

He shoveled food into his mouth.

Learn More about shovel

See words that rhyme with shovel Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shovel Spanish Central: Translation of shovel Nglish: Translation of shovel for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shovel for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shovel

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Origin and Etymology of shovel

shovel

Definition of shovel

Examples of shovel in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shovel from the Web

First Known Use of shovel

shovel Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

SHOVEL Defined for English Language Learners

shovel

Definition of shovel for English Language Learners

shovel

Definition of shovel for English Language Learners

SHOVEL Defined for Kids

shovel

Definition of shovel for Students

shovel

Definition of shovel for Students

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