excavate
5 synonyms and 2 antonyms for excavate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To dig a hole in something, making it hollow.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To dig a hole in something, making it hollow.
“Workers excavated the site to lay the new foundations.”
How to use excavate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
excavate a site
excavate the ruins
excavate a trench
Etymology
From Latin excavare, "to hollow out," from ex- ("out") + cavare ("to make hollow"), from cavus ("hollow").
Full origin of excavate →Frequently asked questions
What does “excavate” mean?
The word “excavate” means to dig a hole in something, making it hollow. In plain terms, to dig out or uncover something by digging.
How do you pronounce “excavate”?
“Excavate” is pronounced EHK-skuh-vayt (/ˈɛk.skə.veɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “excavate” in a sentence?
Here is “excavate” used in a sentence: “Workers excavated the site to lay the new foundations.”
What part of speech is “excavate”?
“Excavate” is a verb.
Where does the word “excavate” come from?
The word “excavate” comes from Latin. From Latin excavare, "to hollow out," from ex- ("out") + cavare ("to make hollow"), from cavus ("hollow").
How many meanings does “excavate” have?
“Excavate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to dig a hole in something, making it hollow.
