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.

When fires broke out, flames could engulf an entire train car, forcing Woods to act quickly to contain the blaze with buckets of water and shovelfuls of sand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Michael Beale asked his side to give themselves a platform for the second leg in the Netherlands and, although they lacked refinement at times, shovelfuls of endeavour kept them in the tie.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2023

The yellow-vested teams work in areas slated for construction, carefully digging 10 feet or more into hard alluvial soil and pushing shovelfuls of dirt through course-mesh screens to gather the smallest pieces of evidence.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2023

Rant for not taking a couple of extra shovelfuls of asphalt to fill the big pothole which is literally 2 feet from one of the intersections that were repaved as part of this project.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 2, 2022

“You can either stay there while they throw shovelfuls of sand on you or just climb out. Your choice. Not theirs.”

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt