shovelful
Americannoun
-
shovelfuls
plural
Spelling
See -ful.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of shovelful
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.
See Examples For:
In almost all cases, it came down to inadequate thought and planning before the first shovelful of dirt was turned.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 7, 2023
President John Quincy Adams lifted the first shovelful of dirt in 1828 for what investors envisioned as a liquid highway transporting goods between Washington and the Ohio River.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 16, 2021
Silliest thing in the world is standing there throwing a shovelful of dirt at a 80-foot flame, feel like a complete idiot, but enough shovelfuls, you'll put it out.
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2021
He carefully hauled out the bins, tipped them over and tossed piles of golden grain into his bison’s feeding pen by the shovelful.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 21, 2020
As Stanley dug up another shovelful of dirt, it occurred to him that Armpit wasn't the biggest.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
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
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
Every day more solemn shovelfuls of dirt are poured into graves, and another shiva begins.
From New York Times ● Oct. 31, 2018
Betsie had never been able to lift much; today her shovelfuls were microscopic and she stumbled frequently as she walked to the low ground where we dumped the loads.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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