as in to dig
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth
workmen are excavating a long tunnel that will eventually replace the aboveground expressway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 excavate
Thanks to the cave’s arid conditions, when archaeologists excavated the place in the 1950s, the poop was in pretty good shape.
—
Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
In 2002 researchers excavated a site with a mass grave of 2,000 to 3,000 people in Vilnius, Lithuania.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
The region’s low humidity and dry climate helped preserve the fecal samples and other finds that have been recovered from the cave since it was first excavated in the middle of the 20th century.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Archaeologists plan to continue analyzing these artifacts and excavating the area around the ancient basin.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
In 2002 researchers excavated a site with a mass grave of 2,000 to 3,000 people in Vilnius, Lithuania.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
The region’s low humidity and dry climate helped preserve the fecal samples and other finds that have been recovered from the cave since it was first excavated in the middle of the 20th century.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025
Archaeologists plan to continue analyzing these artifacts and excavating the area around the ancient basin.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
-
Known as knockers in England, kobolds also live in caves and mines and make knocking noises directing human miners where to dig.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Excess nutrients also make fruit tree roots more likely to rot or attract digging animals.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After the funeral was over, the musician remained at his father’s gravesite to shovel the dirt onto his grave, choosing to bury Douglas' body with his own hands.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Roughly 24 hours later, Yurov made good on that promise, shoveling a loose puck over the goal line for the eventual game-winner as the Wild beat the Rangers 3-1 at Madison Square Garden.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share