excavation
4 synonyms for excavation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of digging out earth to create a hole, trench, or foundation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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.
archeological site
How to use excavation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
archaeological excavation
excavation site
carry out an excavation
Etymology
From Latin excavatio, "a hollowing out," built on excavare (see "excavate").
Full origin of excavation →Frequently asked questions
What does “excavation” mean?
The word “excavation” means the act of digging out earth to create a hole, trench, or foundation. In plain terms, the act of digging something out, or the hole/site left behind.
How do you pronounce “excavation”?
“Excavation” is pronounced ehks-kuh-VAYSHN (/ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃn/ in IPA).
How do you use “excavation” in a sentence?
Here is “excavation” used in a sentence: “Excavation for the new tunnel took almost a year.”
What part of speech is “excavation”?
“Excavation” is a noun.
Where does the word “excavation” come from?
The word “excavation” comes from Latin. From Latin excavatio, "a hollowing out," built on excavare (see "excavate").
Is “excavation” a common word?
“Excavation” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “excavation” have?
“Excavation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of digging out earth to create a hole, trench, or foundation.
