shovel
Shovel (verb) means to move earth, snow, or other loose material using a shovel. Example: “They spent the morning shovelling snow off the driveway.”
How to use shovel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA digging tool, or to move material with one.
Word forms
shoveled past tense, shovelled past tense, shovels singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grabbed a _____ from the shed.
Etymology
From Old English scofl, related to the verb "shove" plus an instrument-forming suffix.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for shovel
See all rhymes for shovel →Frequently asked questions
What does “shovel” mean?
The word “shovel” means to move earth, snow, or other loose material using a shovel. In plain terms, a digging tool, or to move material with one.
How do you pronounce “shovel”?
“Shovel” is pronounced SHUHV-uhl (/ˈʃʌv.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shovel” in a sentence?
Here is “shovel” used in a sentence: “They spent the morning shovelling snow off the driveway.”
What part of speech is “shovel”?
Depending on how it is used, “shovel” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “shovel” come from?
The word “shovel” comes from Old English. From Old English scofl, related to the verb "shove" plus an instrument-forming suffix.
Is “shovel” a common word?
“Shovel” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shovel” have?
“Shovel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move earth, snow, or other loose material using a shovel.