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
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Recent Examples of excavate
In the 1930s, workers using explosives and machinery excavated a 13-mile tunnel beneath Mt. San Jacinto to bring Colorado River water to Southern California.
—
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
The rail crossing at Southwest Highway and Kilbourn Avenue in Oak Lawn will close for 10 days next month to excavate and replace the rail at a crossing used often by emergency vehicles.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
To satisfy federal and state requirements to offset the filling of the coal pier channel, the joint venture plans to excavate 19 acres of land along the Jones Creek side of Sparrows Point, converting it to open water and wetlands.
—Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Archaeologists were astonished to uncover hundreds of skeletons while excavating the grounds of a university, which once hosted a medieval church demolished in the 1650s.
—Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
The rail crossing at Southwest Highway and Kilbourn Avenue in Oak Lawn will close for 10 days next month to excavate and replace the rail at a crossing used often by emergency vehicles.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
To satisfy federal and state requirements to offset the filling of the coal pier channel, the joint venture plans to excavate 19 acres of land along the Jones Creek side of Sparrows Point, converting it to open water and wetlands.
—Timothy B. Wheeler, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Archaeologists were astonished to uncover hundreds of skeletons while excavating the grounds of a university, which once hosted a medieval church demolished in the 1650s.
—Fox News Staff, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
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Electric cables were ripped from the walls and dug from the ground in Aldy's home and in virtually every occupied building, stripped for copper.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
16 May 2025
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In the 1750s, an Italian farmer digging a well stumbled upon a lavish villa in the ruins of Herculaneum.—
Ellen Wexler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
Verb
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The father pleads for his life as dirt is being shoveled in his face, unable to understand what Vahid is doing this for.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
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Then, workers shovel lots and lots of coal as the bricks fire, firming them up.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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