shovel
noun
shov·el
| \ ˈshə-vəl
\
\
Definition of shovel
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a hand implement consisting of a broad scoop or a more or less hollowed out blade with a handle used to lift and throw material
b
: something that resembles a shovel
c
: an excavating machine
especially
: a hydraulic diesel-engine driven power shovel
2
: shovelful
shovel
verb
shoveled
or shovelled;
shoveling
or shovelling\ ˈshə-və-liŋ
, ˈshəv-liŋ \
, ˈshəv-liŋ \
Definition of shovel (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to take up and throw with a shovel
2
: to dig or clean out with a shovel
3
: to throw or convey roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel
shoveled his food into his mouth
: to use a shovel
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of shovel in a Sentence
Verb
He is outside shoveling snow. I have to shovel the driveway. I had to shovel for an hour to clear the driveway. The snow was so deep we had to shovel a path to our front door. Stop shoveling food into your mouth.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Investigators noted there was a shovel and pick in the backseat of Perez’s car with what appeared to be fresh dirt. — Jacob Beltran, ExpressNews.com, "Affidavit reveals details of events leading to discovery of woman’s body," 2 Aug. 2019 Chinese government spending and subsidies keep the shovels moving. — By Vivienne Walt, Fortune, "Boxed In at the Docks: How a Lifeline From China Changed Greece," 22 July 2019 First-time visitors to the area are often surprised to learn that there aren’t miles of beaches, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any patches of sand—you’ll just need to dig a little deeper (with that plastic shovel) to find them. — Nancy Depalma, Condé Nast Traveler, "Best Beaches in the Florida Keys," 19 July 2019 As for the shovel jaw, the dinosaur used it to scoop aquatic plants from wet sediment near the sea that covered much of Big Bend. — Sarah Sarder, Dallas News, "After years in a drawer, 'strange' Big Bend dinosaur identified as new species," 17 July 2019 Someone passed out 20 shovels and the work boys had one last job together. — Beth Thames | [email protected], al.com, "Camp is about summer fun, and life lessons," 17 July 2019 After the ceremony, each guest was given a handwritten note from the couple on cards embossed with the image of a miner carrying a pickax and a shovel. — Lois Smith Brady, New York Times, "A Ghost Town Wedding With 47 Guests, and Maybe a Few Others," 5 July 2019 In the overnight hours, investigators were seen carrying shovels into the property’s backyard. — Greg Norman | Fox News, Fox News, "Mackenzie Lueck disappearance: Police spotted digging holes at Utah home after neighbors report recent fire, ‘strong stench’," 27 June 2019 Lisey Landon, sending her sadistic tormentor into interdimensional purgatory with a single savage blow from a ceremonial silver shovel? Beach book. — Jennifer Weiner, EW.com, "Jennifer Weiner pens essay on beach reads for EW: 'I've tried to make peace with the label'," 17 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
While communities north of St. Louis are beginning the expensive path to recovery after record-breaking winter and spring precipitation and runoff, people below the Missouri River are shoveling mud from their houses and praying for a dry spell. — Daniel Cusick, Scientific American, "No End in Sight for Record Midwest Flood Crisis," 26 June 2019 Dundon cut down its size by shoveling silt over the pile, and by October, the heap’s core was ashes, the fire out. — Los Angeles Times, "Tim Dundon, ‘Guru of Doo Doo,’ whose compost nourished Altadena’s gardens, dies at 77," 6 Aug. 2019 Here’s how those garden wonders have evolved or been replaced, from a light for avid green thumbs who just couldn’t stop shoveling at sunset, to a hose holder for those weary from hours of watering. — Sunset, "Night Gardening, Easy Squeezing, and 6 Other Gardening Ideas That Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time," 22 Jan. 2018 One partner might be in charge of cooking, paying bills and preparing tax returns while the other is responsible for household repairs, taking out the garbage and shoveling snow. — Jackie Pilossoph, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Divorce means big lifestyle changes, but they aren’t all bad," 25 July 2019 In Lafayette, Willie Allen and his 11-year-old grandson, Gavin Coleman, shoveled sand into 20 green bags, joining a group of more than 20 other people doing the same thing during a break in the rain. — Kevin Mcgill And Janet Mcconnaughey, SFChronicle.com, "Barry crawls ashore in Louisiana, weakens to tropical storm," 13 July 2019 Phyllis has two daughters and two sons, both of whom went to the Naval Academy and became pilots after her husband died of a heart attack shoveling snow one New Year’s Day decades ago. — Bob Sansevere, Twin Cities, "Bob Sansevere: Niece’s letter landed her a dream date with Mike Veeck," 12 July 2019 The victims included a University of Iowa student who died after being found unconscious outside Wednesday and a 55-year-old Milwaukee man who died shoveling snow. ... — Erin Ailworth, WSJ, "Polar Vortex Strains Systems; General Motors Halts Factories," 31 Jan. 2019 With shoveled-off snow piled on the sidelines, the artificial turf field at Knowlton Stadium was the site of just the third outdoor practice for the Sachems. — Matt Case, BostonGlobe.com, "Winchester leads youth movement in boys’ lacrosse," 29 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shovel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for shovel
shovel
noun
English Language Learners Definition of shovel
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a tool with a long handle that is used for lifting and throwing dirt, sand, snow, etc.
: the part of a machine (such as a backhoe) that picks up and moves dirt, sand, snow, etc.
shovel
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of shovel (Entry 2 of 2)
: to lift and throw (dirt, sand, snow, etc.) with a shovel
: to remove snow from (a sidewalk, driveway, etc.) with a shovel
: to create (a path) by removing snow with a shovel
See the full definition for shovel in the English Language Learners Dictionary
shovel
noun
shov·el
| \ ˈshə-vəl
\
\
Kids Definition of shovel
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a tool with a long handle and broad scoop used to lift and throw loose material (as dirt or snow)
2
: as much as a shovel will hold
a shovel of sand
shovel
verb
shoveled
or shovelled;
shoveling
or shovelling