excavate (B2)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈɛkstəveɪt/

Definition

To dig into the ground to find or remove something, especially something old like ruins or fossils.

Examples

• They will excavate the site for evidence of early human settlement.

• The construction crew had to excavate a large area for the new building's foundation.

• Paleontologists hope to excavate dinosaur bones from the rock formation.

How to Use excavate

excavate for (prepositional phrase)

To dig in a specific place to find something. — "Archaeologists excavate the area for signs of ancient pottery."

excavate something (collocation)

To dig out a specific object or material. — "They will excavate the buried treasure."

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary