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
Indeed, materials excavated from their land have been used to build Naples’ Piazza del Plebiscito and revive the city’s bustling streets into the industrial boom.
—
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
For the study, the researchers drilled two-gram samples out of the inner walls of two vessel fragments excavated by Schliemann.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
The thrill of the rush is what got kids on the run as their parents tried to direct them to areas not yet excavated.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Underground is a contemporary interpretation of the Roman baths excavated in nearby Cimiez, with a warm tepidarium, a hot caldarium, and a frigidarium, or cold plunge.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
For the study, the researchers drilled two-gram samples out of the inner walls of two vessel fragments excavated by Schliemann.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
The thrill of the rush is what got kids on the run as their parents tried to direct them to areas not yet excavated.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Underground is a contemporary interpretation of the Roman baths excavated in nearby Cimiez, with a warm tepidarium, a hot caldarium, and a frigidarium, or cold plunge.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
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Using a travel pill organizer can save space and keep you from having to dig around your bag for all of your vitamins and medicine.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2025
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The companies involved in the cable installation project called Missouri’s 811 information line and shared their intent to dig before April 9.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Over the years, players, including Durham, sometimes gave Wickers money to supplement his income from washing windows, shoveling snow and other odd jobs.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
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There’s also evidence that the ship’s engineers left the boilers on, shoveling coal into the furnaces to keep electricity running.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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