excavate

[eks-kuh-veyt]

verb (used with object)

excavated, excavating 

1. to make hollow by removing the inner part; make a hole or cavity in; form into a hollow, as by digging.

   The ground was excavated for a foundation.

2. to make (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.

3. to dig or scoop out (earth, sand, etc.).

4. to expose or lay bare by or as if by digging; unearth.

   to excavate an ancient city.

excavate

/ ˈɛkskəˌveɪt /

verb

1. to remove (soil, earth, etc) by digging; dig out

2. to make (a hole, cavity, or tunnel) in (solid matter) by hollowing or removing the centre or inner part

   to excavate a tooth

3. to unearth (buried objects) methodically in an attempt to discover information about the past

Other Word Forms

• excavation noun
• reexcavate verb (used with object)
• unexcavated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excavate¹

1590–1600; < Latin excavātus (past participle of excavāre to hollow out), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + cav ( um ) hollow, cave + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of excavate¹

C16: from Latin excavāre, from cavāre to make hollow, from cavus hollow

Example Sentences

For the main theater, to avoid changing the building’s historic roofline, crews excavated below the original slab, lowering the stage and audience levels so catwalks, rigging and lighting grids could fit under the low profile.

From Los Angeles Times

Archaeologists have excavated about 50 such urns from the site so far.

From BBC

A slipway from the 18th Century where ships for Lord Nelson's fleet were built and launched has been excavated by archaeologists.

From BBC

Crews have excavated 85% of the area and have begun digging by hand around the valve to ensure adjacent oil pipelines, a fiber optic line and a gas line are not affected, Quiñones said.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, they opt for a film that’s far more sophisticated and surprising, while still excavating truths that always existed in those “crazy woman” thrillers of yore.

From Salon

Related Words

• scrape 
• shovel 
• uncover 
• unearth