verb
Uncommon
shovel
SHUHV-uhl
Shovel (verb) means to move earth, snow, or other loose material using a shovel. Example: “They spent the morning shovelling snow off the driveway.”
verb
1
To move earth, snow, or other loose material using a shovel.
"They spent the morning shovelling snow off the driveway."
"He shovelled dirt into the wheelbarrow."
noun
1
A tool with a broad blade and handle, used for digging or moving loose material.
"She grabbed a shovel from the shed."
How to use shovel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA digging tool, or to move material with one.
Common pairings
shovel snow
a spade and shovel
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- shovels
- Past tense
- shoveled, shovelled
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
View more →Related words
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.
