excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce excavator (audio)
: one that excavates
especially : a power-operated shovel

Examples of excavator in a Sentence

The excavators found ancient tools at the site.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Videos shared by the Nepali army show rescue personnel using drills and excavator machines to try and rescue those who were trapped. — Mamita Bhandari, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026 Guello then documents pulling the skid plate off of the Komatsu excavator to free the small kitten in the video shared on July 14. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Larger stumps will require the use of excavators or other heavy equipment, Team explains, which can quickly send the costs into the thousands. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026 The idea is that as an operator mimes picking up a pile of rocks, the arm would generate a force in response, as if the operator could feel the heaviness of the rocks, confirming that the excavator is indeed picking them up. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excavator

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excavator was circa 1815

Rhymes for excavator

See All Rhymes for excavator

Browse Nearby Words

excavation
excavator
excavatory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Excavator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excavator. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

excavator

noun
ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər How to pronounce excavator (audio)
: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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