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
Her disappearance prompted a multi-day search by excavators and rescue teams.
—
David Chiu, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
In the coming weeks, crews will bring in excavators and construction equipment to clear the muddy sediment deposits and debris that build up at the bottom of the canal.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2024
Unstable Walls The deepest open pit in the Earth is the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah, which was dug with excavators and explosives in the early 1900s to mine copper ore.
—Andrew Gase, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2024
That was no different in 2024, with a construction worker turning up a nude marble deity hidden some 1,600 years ago, an art historian spotting a missing painting on his social media feed, and an amateur excavator digging up a confounding ancient Roman object.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for excavator 
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.
David Chiu, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
In the coming weeks, crews will bring in excavators and construction equipment to clear the muddy sediment deposits and debris that build up at the bottom of the canal.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2024
Unstable Walls The deepest open pit in the Earth is the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah, which was dug with excavators and explosives in the early 1900s to mine copper ore.
—Andrew Gase, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2024
That was no different in 2024, with a construction worker turning up a nude marble deity hidden some 1,600 years ago, an art historian spotting a missing painting on his social media feed, and an amateur excavator digging up a confounding ancient Roman object.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for excavator
Dictionary Entries Near excavator
Cite this Entry
“Excavator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavator. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share