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

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delve

2 of 2

verb

as in to excavate

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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
Tony, taking place over one summer, does not delve into questions about his death. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 Given a treasure trove of options to delve into, Webb and Wolfington chose to focus on the title track. — Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 That pushed the company to delve into other areas including advertising, gaming and cracking down on password sharing. — Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Now, with the launch of her new womenswear brand, Memory NYC, audiences can delve even further into her cute, nostalgic visual world. — Violet Conroy, Vogue, 15 July 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
  • Cactus remains found in a Peruvian cave suggest use stretching back perhaps 8,000 years.
    — Pardis Mahdavi, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026
  • To emerge from that edit cave into the spotlight of public reaction must be disorienting.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of cave
Verb
  • Two slurry shield machines will excavate the cross-river section from opposite ends.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Once the house is resting on I-beams, Craig and his crew excavate some more, to put hydraulic jacks under the beams.
    — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of excavate
Noun
  • Floating through crystal-clear water before hiking silently through cathedral-like caverns was easily the highlight of my time in the Mexican Caribbean and a reminder that one of the region's greatest attractions lies well beyond the beach.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
  • At present, lithium-ion batteries excel at short-term electricity storage (hours), but hydrogen can be stored in large quantities in underground salt caverns for months, balancing seasonal swings in renewable energy production.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of cavern
Verb
  • Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin broke out of Alcatraz by digging holes in the prison walls using spoons from the cafeteria.
    — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Bedrock wants machines to work together next The long-term idea goes far beyond one excavator digging by itself.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of dig
Noun
  • Legend has it, Sperlonga was a stop on Odysseus's journey, and a group of ancient sculptures depicting scenes from the Odyssey were found in the grotto adjacent to the villa.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The hydrotherapy circuit runs cold plunge pools alongside a jungle-view sauna and a steam room with an ice fountain, plus a mud grotto and a vitality pool.
    — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of grotto
Verb
  • Meanwhile, two sauna masters shovelled ice infused with fragrant oil onto the rocks and performed an Aufguss, a German ritual in which towels are twirled to spread scented air.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Right now, that means shoveling rocks, insulating and backfilling the basement of the American Hotel, the original hotel in the town which burned down in 2020.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of shovel

Phrases Containing delve

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deluxe
delve
delved
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Cite this Entry

“Delve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delve. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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