excavating

present participle of excavate
as in digging
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth workmen are excavating a long tunnel that will eventually replace the aboveground expressway

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of excavating Crews began excavating in the backyard of the home on Tuesday, looking for evidence linked to several missing women. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 The current trend of excavating video game nostalgia continues with this latest cinematic adaptation of the popular franchise that dates all the way back to 1987. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 Pollard and Harper will discuss their newest features, Tutu and Soul Patrol, and their processes of excavating history, culture, and politics in their work. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 John Henry, one of the most famous characters in American folklore, was in fact a Black man who died while part of a prison work gang excavating a railway tunnel in western Virginia in the early 1870s. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026 Abric Romaní has been explored continuously since 1983, so the team has had time to develop a method for excavating objects that are essentially empty space. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026 Energy companies might save substantial capital by tapping naturally occurring subterranean structures rather than excavating artificial caverns or modifying depleted reservoirs. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026 Archaeologists excavating Hattusa, the former capital of the Hittite Empire in what is now Turkey, discovered a fragment of a clay tablet inscribed with Akkadian cuneiform, according to Smithsonian Magazine. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 Whether that’s the pursuit of new forms of connection, experimenting with unfamiliar design frameworks such as a new menswear silhouette, or excavating references from the past, the brand approaches each collection with a spirit of inquiry. — Michael Anthony Hall, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excavating
digging
Verb
  • Kaeding also said the inspiration for the latest collection came from finding pieces in vintage stores and digging through bins.
    — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Limestone bluffs, dramatic plaza entrances Notable, construction will include digging a 90-foot hole and sculpting the stadium site out of the ground’s limestone.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Excavating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excavating. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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