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
For decades, the site was only partially excavated, for fear that further digging would disturb a nearby church built by famed architect Christopher Wren.
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Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025
Then, in 2022, a team of archaeologists from Durham University excavated the site near the village of Melsonby in North Yorkshire, advised by the British Museum and with a grant from Historic England.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Scattered around the Norse site are excavated fire pits and tent rings, along with debris from tool-making left behind by at least five different Indigenous groups dating back as far as 5,000 years ago.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 25 Mar. 2025
While excavating the ruins of an ancient gold mining village in Egypt, archaeologists uncovered some eerie artifacts: two sets of shackles intended for humans.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025
Then, in 2022, a team of archaeologists from Durham University excavated the site near the village of Melsonby in North Yorkshire, advised by the British Museum and with a grant from Historic England.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Scattered around the Norse site are excavated fire pits and tent rings, along with debris from tool-making left behind by at least five different Indigenous groups dating back as far as 5,000 years ago.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 25 Mar. 2025
While excavating the ruins of an ancient gold mining village in Egypt, archaeologists uncovered some eerie artifacts: two sets of shackles intended for humans.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for excavate
Cite this Entry
“Excavate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavate. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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