excavate
verb (used with object)
to make hollow by removing the inner part; make a hole or cavity in; form into a hollow, as by digging.
had excavated
-
past perfectof excavate.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, in 2020, the council discovered that the owner had ignored the ruling and had excavated the existing basement to create a large sub-basement underneath.
From BBC ● May 14, 2025
He did so, and later also sent a partial paddlefish fossil he had excavated himself.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 6, 2022
In grad school, she writes, “I had excavated the bones of these memories, unaware that they would reanimate, that they would chase me into my dreams.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2022
Removing the wood revealed that the hornets had excavated the interior of the tree to make room for the nest, which consisted of nine layers of comb.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 26, 2021
It began in late 1981 when McKee and his Marauders were confident they had excavated most of the artifacts.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
