delve 1 of 2

noun

Definition of delvenext
archaic
as in cave
a naturally formed underground chamber with an opening to the surface a poem in which a medieval knight encounters a mysterious beauty in a darkened delve

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

delve

2 of 2

verb

as in to excavate

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of delve
Verb
Before altering the entire landscape, new leaders should delve deeply into the current organizational context, consider professional opinions from technology teams, and grasp the insights on existing pain points. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026 And to delve into a book written about him, The Man in the Red Bandana, the Rinaldi book, that's helpful for our students, watching that ESPN documentary, that's helpful for our students. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Moving through memory, death, altered consciousness, addiction, violence, fate, and the supernatural, these works delve into what happens when familiar boundaries begin to blur. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 Ahead, experts delve into the many benefits of attracting owls and share tips on creating an inviting environment for these magnificent creatures. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delve
  1. cave
  2. excavate
  3. cavern
  4. dig
  5. grotto
  6. shovel
Noun
  • The original plan called for a more complex full-size puppet, but the schedule changed dramatically after Nolan and production designer Ruth De Jong found a real cave in Greece.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There are cellars with vintages dating back to the 1880s and old wine caves covered in mildew and mold, which were a dream for a wine lover like me.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of cave
Verb
  • Next week, heavy equipment will be brought in to excavate the property.
    — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The remains of these servants, or retainers, were first excavated from the funerary complexes at Abydos, eastern Egypt, which date from around 3000 BC, in the 1920s.
    — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of excavate
Noun
  • Energy Secretary Chris Wright has warned that drawing the reserve down too far could damage the salt caverns where the oil is stored.
    — Heather Occhino, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • While many have described the halls of the Colorado Convention Center as windowless caverns, Levitt Pavilion will offer more of a music festival vibe — and an atmosphere much more akin to other Colorado beer festivals.
    — Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of cavern
Verb
  • Roche is digging deeper into the biotech industry in China, striking a new partnership with a drug startup there.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Her mother dug her out from under debris and Sasha remained in a coma for 15 days.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of dig
Noun
  • The pool flows around a viewing deck with a grotto and slide.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims each year, especially sick and disabled believers hoping for a cure from the famed spring water in the Lourdes grotto where the visions purportedly occurred.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of grotto
Verb
  • Renminbi’s place in global central-bank reserve coffers has actually fallen since 2022, despite Beijing shoveling its currency into developing economies through central-bank swap lines.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But earlier this year, the Navy reservist and his friend shoveled a six-carat diamond from a field in Arkansas where he's found over 300 gems so far.
    — LAURA TURBAY, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of shovel

Phrases Containing delve

Browse Nearby Words

deluxe
delve
delved
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Delve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delve. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All