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 rays consist of material excavated from the Moon’s deep underground during an asteroid or comet impact.
—
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
In excavating Pompeii, archaeologists discovered kilns full of unfired terra-cotta vases beneath mountains of ash.
—Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Scientists from China and then the UK excavated approximately 700 fossils during multiple visits between 2022 and 2025.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
To sit in the grasses, to talk to the neighbors, to excavate, the woman tells the six.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
In excavating Pompeii, archaeologists discovered kilns full of unfired terra-cotta vases beneath mountains of ash.
—Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Scientists from China and then the UK excavated approximately 700 fossils during multiple visits between 2022 and 2025.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
To sit in the grasses, to talk to the neighbors, to excavate, the woman tells the six.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
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Their claws are longer than those of black bears, and used for digging and scraping.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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The approach has been introduced in other outer boroughs, because with every additional acre the city expands capacity without digging another mile of pipe.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Break Up the Soil Use a garden rake and shovel to remove weeds, rocks, and dead grass.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
3 Apr. 2026
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Multiple politicians from several countries are shoveling propaganda at an electorate in order to build terror of an enemy that doesn’t exist at all.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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