excavate

/ˈekskəveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈekskəveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈek-skə-ˌvāt/ (ame, mw)

excavate — verb

  • excavatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • excavateshe / she / it
  • excavatedpast simple
  • excavating-ing form

1. to cut a pit, trench, or passage into the ground, often by using heavy machines

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to cut a pit, trench, or passage into the ground, often by using heavy machines

例句

A yellow machine excavated a deep trench beside the new road.

collocation: excavate a trench

The builders excavated the hillside to make space for the school gym.

同義詞
  • dig

    the general everyday verb for moving soil

  • dig out

    emphasizes removing material to create space

  • hollow out

    focuses on making the inside empty rather than construction work

反義詞
  • fill in

    to put soil or other material back into the hole

  • cover over

    to hide the open ground again

文法句型

excavate + noun phrase

excavate + under/beneath + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used for planned building or engineering work. The verb commonly names the ground area being cut open, or it is followed by under or beneath when the new space matters most.

常見錯誤

❌The crew excavated the burial site for history class.
✅The crew excavated a trench for new cables.
💡This sense is about making a practical hole or channel, not carefully studying ancient remains.

2. to dig away soil around buried old remains so that they can be studied

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to dig away soil around buried old remains so that they can be studied

例句

Ingrid excavated the edge of the Roman bath with a small brush.

excavate + ancient structure carefully

The team excavated several clay lamps from the buried courtyard wall.

同義詞
  • unearth

    often emphasizes finding the object rather than the digging method

  • dig up

    more everyday and less technical than excavate

  • exhume

    used mainly for digging a dead body out of a grave

反義詞
  • bury

    to put something into the ground and cover it

  • rebury

    to place excavated remains back into the ground

文法句型

excavate + noun phrase

excavate + beneath/under + noun phrase

用法筆記

Usually paired with archaeologists, graves, ruins, or temples. It suggests slow, careful digging to expose old remains, not fast earth-moving for a building project.

常見錯誤

❌The builders excavated a ditch beside the garage.
✅The archaeologists excavated the burial site with brushes.
💡This sense focuses on uncovering ancient remains, not routine construction digging.