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
The one who is excavating the stories that their colleagues, clients, and team members need to share but don’t yet know how to.
—
Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
During the fighting, Iran worked to excavate the tunnel entrances at great peril, with the US and Israel often striking the equipment used for digging.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
In that sense, today’s audiences aren’t rejecting movie history so much as actively excavating it — but that feedback loop could have some unintended consequences for older creators.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 May 2026
From there, the scientists spent three years excavating the dinosaur and yet another three years extracting the fossils.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
During the fighting, Iran worked to excavate the tunnel entrances at great peril, with the US and Israel often striking the equipment used for digging.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
In that sense, today’s audiences aren’t rejecting movie history so much as actively excavating it — but that feedback loop could have some unintended consequences for older creators.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 May 2026
From there, the scientists spent three years excavating the dinosaur and yet another three years extracting the fossils.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
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The video opens with a sweaty Long filling a grave he's dug and driving away as Grande's ghost haunts him.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Jack Schnedler,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
Verb
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On summer breaks from university, Gilmore also worked at the port, painting buildings, shoveling coal on a steamship and crewing on harbor boats.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
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Barona Band of Mission Indians Tribal Council members joined Ramona Municipal Water District directors to shovel dirt to kick off the start of construction.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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