excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce excavator (audio)
: 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
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.
In the city of Krakow, excavators at Wawel Royal Castle found a remarkable centuries-old ring earlier this summer. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025 An excavator was used to scoop away some of the soil and concrete on top of Praphrom, and a rescue crew that was called in dug with their hands to try to get the man out of the ground. Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2025 An image taken on August 19 shows Israeli excavators and bulldozers demolishing buildings in Zeitoun. Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 For the past 25 years, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has kept vital forests and grassland safe from bulldozers, saws, excavators and drilling equipment. Ryan Gellert, Time, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for excavator

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excavator was circa 1815

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Excavator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavator. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

excavator

noun
ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər How to pronounce excavator (audio)
: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!