excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər 

: one that excavates

especially : a power-operated shovel

Examples of excavator in a Sentence

The excavators found ancient tools at the site.

Recent Examples on the Web

Workers were seen digging up the roadway with an excavator at the intersection of 6th and Idaho on Thursday morning. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 Mar. 2025

The company in Athens makes the smaller bulldozers, often used on highway ramp construction, and the smaller version excavators. —Wayne Ford, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025

Of course, this isn't the first time an excavator has been put to use to rescue an animal from a dangerous situation. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025

Four Caterpillar excavator machines are lined up and ready to tear down a former juvenile jail in downtown Detroit. —Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excavator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Medical Definition

excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər 

: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them