Synonyms of excavating

excavating

verb

present participle of excavate

as in digging

to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth

workmen are excavating a long tunnel that will eventually replace the aboveground expressway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• digging
• shoveling
• dredging
• grubbing
• burrowing
• mining
• scooping
• delving
• clawing
• quarrying
• spading
• digging in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• filling (in)
• smoothing (out or over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of excavating

Building on such discoveries, the 2026–2030 plan calls for underwater robots, deep-diving equipment and specialized tools capable of carefully excavating fragile remains on the seabed. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026

Fidan’s team has spent over five years excavating sections of the mound. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026

Auction houses counter that private investment helps fund the expensive work of excavating, preserving, and studying specimens. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

After Matthew passed, I was deeply saddened, but remained interested in excavating the full story of Matthew. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026

Crews began excavating in the backyard of the home on Tuesday, looking for evidence linked to several missing women. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

The current trend of excavating video game nostalgia continues with this latest cinematic adaptation of the popular franchise that dates all the way back to 1987. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Pollard and Harper will discuss their newest features, Tutu and Soul Patrol, and their processes of excavating history, culture, and politics in their work. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

John Henry, one of the most famous characters in American folklore, was in fact a Black man who died while part of a prison work gang excavating a railway tunnel in western Virginia in the early 1870s. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026