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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 excavating
The search began Monday, and involves investigators from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and the State Attorney's Office, who are excavating an area at Dry Creek Ranch after cadaver dogs alerted them during a recent search.
—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
The project plans to produce yellowcake using in-situ recovery technology, which circulates an oxygen- and water-based solution through underground ore bodies instead of excavating large open pits.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
Northwestern plans to start excavating the site later this year but still needs several state and city approvals before launching construction, most likely in 2027.
—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Archaeologists excavating an ancient cemetery in Cairo have found a cache of burial objects that could shed new light on funeral practices in one of Egypt‘s most important religious centers.
—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
1 June 2026
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
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
Her protagonist, Arizona, travels from Harvard University’s historic surgical theater to the Catacombs of Paris, excavating medical histories to try and resolve the complexities of her father’s death.
—
Arizona O'Neill,
Longreads,
19 May 2026
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2026
The project plans to produce yellowcake using in-situ recovery technology, which circulates an oxygen- and water-based solution through underground ore bodies instead of excavating large open pits.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
Northwestern plans to start excavating the site later this year but still needs several state and city approvals before launching construction, most likely in 2027.
—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Archaeologists excavating an ancient cemetery in Cairo have found a cache of burial objects that could shed new light on funeral practices in one of Egypt‘s most important religious centers.
—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
1 June 2026
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
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
Her protagonist, Arizona, travels from Harvard University’s historic surgical theater to the Catacombs of Paris, excavating medical histories to try and resolve the complexities of her father’s death.
—
Arizona O'Neill,
Longreads,
19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavating
digging
Verb
-
Price may attract attention initially, but many patients continue digging deeper before committing.
-
Aided by Rachel, David begins digging through the past to figure out what happened to Matthew.
Cite this Entry
“Excavating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavating. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
