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
Other mining jobs include continuous mining machine operators, excavating/loading machine and dragline operators, and construction equipment operators.
—
Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Like every other year, remains have been excavated.
—Seema Jilani
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
Its two towers, or oasts, plus firepits and facade are made from Catawba stone excavated during the brewery’s build-out, while local black walnut wood forms the bar top and wall coverings.
—Kate Bernot, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
Currently, the crew is still working on excavating down to the pipe to find the exact break, the company stated.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Like every other year, remains have been excavated.
—Seema Jilani
august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
Its two towers, or oasts, plus firepits and facade are made from Catawba stone excavated during the brewery’s build-out, while local black walnut wood forms the bar top and wall coverings.
—Kate Bernot, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
Currently, the crew is still working on excavating down to the pipe to find the exact break, the company stated.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
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The deeper Acosta dug, the more concrete his convictions became about how McCarthy’s standard — both for himself and others — would raise the expectations at IMG.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Controversy erupted in 1933 over Viking’s publication of Erskine Caldwell’s fourth novel, God’s Little Acre, a story of farmers in Georgia digging futilely for gold.—
Paul Slovak
September 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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On third-and-2 at the CU 20, the Buffs QB hurried left with seemingly the entire Houston defense in pursuit, spotted Omarion Miller just past the line of scrimmage, and shoveled him the ball before the red jerseys closed in.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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