excavated

past tense of excavate
as in dug
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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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 excavated Workers excavated a 3-by 4-foot area to find the source of the leak and will begin welding a patch at the leak site on Thursday. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 That includes a stunning gold and jeweled necklace discovered on the remains of an adult woman presumed to be Julia Felix, excavated next to the Shrine of Isis at the prosperous businesswoman's sprawling estate. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 July 2026 Start With Helsinki’s Rock Church Temppeliaukio, better known as the Rock Church, was excavated directly into Helsinki’s granite bedrock. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 The women were originally excavated during the late 19th century from within the funerary complex at Dahshur, an ancient Egyptian necropolis featuring some of the oldest, largest, and best preserved pyramids in Giza. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026 When Princess Ita’s final resting place was first excavated by French archeologist Jacques de Morgan in the late 1800s, Ita was somewhat of an afterthought, Hashesh says. Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 17 July 2026 The church's eastern end has not yet been excavated — suggesting the complex may be even larger than currently known. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026 The family eventually rebuilt itself, but filming the show excavated old wounds. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 14 July 2026 It was excavated over the course of five years, according to the auction house. Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavated
dug
Verb
  • There, the cast and crew of the series dug deep into its upcoming third season.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
  • Hitting the gym is generally good for heart health, but the researchers in the study dug deeper to see how different types of cardiovascular disease risk were affected.
    Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 23 July 2026

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“Excavated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavated. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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