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
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 excavated
The 12-sided metal object is one of more than 100 excavated throughout Europe.
—
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
In a reversal of the previous example, students volunteering at an archaeological dig in the French town of Eu stumbled onto a message in a bottle written by a French archaeologist who’d excavated that same site 200 years earlier.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
Researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange travelled to the site, and eventually excavated an entire mastodon jawbone.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2024
Over 3,000 bones were excavated from a 50-foot pit in Charterhouse Warren, around 20 miles south of the city of Bristol in southwest England.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
All other fossils were excavated closer to the poles — either Russia or South Africa.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 17 Dec. 2024
However, once excavated, the facade was revealed, featuring semi-columns in the Corinthian style and an undecorated cornice.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
Eventually, there are revelations about the atrocities at Nickel; the grounds are excavated, and human remains discovered.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024
According to their recent study published in the Journal of Ancient History and Archeology, the book-sized artifact excavated in 2021 features 60 etched symbols, 39 of which differ from one another.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
In a reversal of the previous example, students volunteering at an archaeological dig in the French town of Eu stumbled onto a message in a bottle written by a French archaeologist who’d excavated that same site 200 years earlier.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
Researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange travelled to the site, and eventually excavated an entire mastodon jawbone.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Dec. 2024
Over 3,000 bones were excavated from a 50-foot pit in Charterhouse Warren, around 20 miles south of the city of Bristol in southwest England.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
All other fossils were excavated closer to the poles — either Russia or South Africa.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 17 Dec. 2024
However, once excavated, the facade was revealed, featuring semi-columns in the Corinthian style and an undecorated cornice.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
Eventually, there are revelations about the atrocities at Nickel; the grounds are excavated, and human remains discovered.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024
According to their recent study published in the Journal of Ancient History and Archeology, the book-sized artifact excavated in 2021 features 60 etched symbols, 39 of which differ from one another.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near excavated
Cite this Entry
“Excavated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavated. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share