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
In 2018, scientists analyzed a sliver of bone excavated from a cave site in Russia.
—
ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
In the nineteenth century, the church graveyard was excavated for the coming railway—a gruesome process overseen by a young architect who later became a great novelist, Thomas Hardy.
—Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 4 July 2025
Researchers initially found the two-foot-long boomerang in 1985 while excavating the Obłazowa Cave in southern Poland.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
From 2004 to 2009, a team excavated the Neumark-Nord 2 site year-round, even training over 175 international students in the process.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
In the nineteenth century, the church graveyard was excavated for the coming railway—a gruesome process overseen by a young architect who later became a great novelist, Thomas Hardy.
—Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 4 July 2025
Researchers initially found the two-foot-long boomerang in 1985 while excavating the Obłazowa Cave in southern Poland.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
From 2004 to 2009, a team excavated the Neumark-Nord 2 site year-round, even training over 175 international students in the process.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavate
Verb
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
14 July 2025
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Circularity done properly is more efficient and cheaper than dig and dump.—
Clem Chambers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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The episode ends with the buzz of the alarm at 6:45 a.m., as Jess shovels cold pho into her mouth in preparation for another exhausted workday.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
10 July 2025
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Some concerns, such as the amount of sidewalk that has to be shoveled on corner lots, don't translate into anyone being against sidewalks, per se, city officials said.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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