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

Smart excavation solutions Bedrock’s flagship Bedrock Operator platform enables construction equipment—such as excavators ranging from 20-ton compact machines to 80-ton large-scale earthmovers—to operate semi-independently while integrating seamlessly with existing workflows. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025

During the Christianization period, the structure was turned into a church, which surprised excavators. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025

The company, founded in 1994, is among the world’s largest makers of construction machinery, producing excavators, cranes, road-building equipment and pile drivers. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025

An Egyptian team of experts entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday with several engineering vehicles, excavators, and other equipment to assist with locating the bodies. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excavator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Medical 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