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

What happens to the picks and shovels when the gold rush goes bust? —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2025

As the morning light spread across the San Francisco Peaks, a group of about 50 volunteers from across Arizona gathered in the national forest, armed with shovels and buckets of young pine trees. —John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Verb

Outside one house on Tuesday evening, seven people quickly moved large tree branches away from the structure and shoveled sand onto the fire in a desperate attempt to keep the blaze from spreading from the house next door, according to the AP. —Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

Hayes is now a long ways away from his teenage years shoveling driveways, and his early career as a postal-service worker. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 30 Aug. 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