shovel

1 of 2

noun

shov·​el ˈshə-vəl How to pronounce shovel (audio)
1
a
: 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

shovel

2 of 2

verb

shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling ˈshə-və-liŋ How to pronounce shovel (audio)
ˈshəv-liŋ

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to use a shovel

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
The Forest Service advised those who travel in avalanche terrain to carry such tools as crampons, an ice axe, a helmet, an avalanche beacon and a shovel. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 In another rare weather event in Central California, two tornadoes touched down during weekend storms — one Friday in Madera County and the second on Saturday in Kings County. ‘Bring a shovel’: Yosemite has partly reopened after the blizzard brought as much as 45 inches of snow. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Two Russian soldiers can be seen clambering inside the ruins of a dugout, one manhandling a shovel. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Tumbler composters are elevated on a frame and typically have a hand crank to turn the scraps and compost, rather than using a shovel. Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024 The Oscar winner stood with a grin and a shovel full of dirt alongside local politicians and donors in the decidedly non-Hollywood city of Palmdale, 60 miles north and across the San Gabriel Mountains from Los Angeles. CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024 If the animal is deceased, use gloves or a shovel to carefully move it. Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 7 Feb. 2024 And if the snow is deep enough, it must be dug out by crews with shovels to allow people to access the chairs at the lift stations. Jane Tyska, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Daggett said the goal is to have shovels in the ground by spring 2025. The Arizona Republic, 17 Feb. 2024
Verb
The snow piled up so thickly on rooftops that when another storm threatened more snow and rain, residents had to scramble to shovel off enough weight to keep their roofs from caving in. Megan Michelson, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 On an early December afternoon, a two-man crew pulled up to small potholes on neighborhood streets, jack-hammering out the holes and shoveling in hot asphalt. Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2024 In suburban Virginia, Mark Hyatt, 47, went for a 3-mile run before shoveling out two cars and the steps to his Arlington home. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Buffalo Bills fans took to Highmark Stadium once again to shovel snow in the days leading up to Sunday night's playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Ali Gostanian, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2024 Snow should not be shoveled or moved in any way into the streets. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 That, against this disastrous backdrop, President Biden believes that his fiscal priority ought to be shoveling money to people with the privilege of a college education is incredible. The Editors, National Review, 22 Feb. 2024 By Angela Haupt February 2, 2024 1:46 PM EST When Tom Holland, a 54-year-old exercise physiologist, shovels snow at home in Connecticut, someone always starts shouting at him. TIME, 2 Feb. 2024 Outside the Heartland Fire Station on Central Avenue in Lemon Grove, about a dozen residents shoveled sand into bags to safeguard their homes from rising waters ahead of Thursday’s storm. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shovel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English scofl; akin to Old High German scūfla shovel, Old English scūfan to thrust away

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shovel was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shovel

Cite this Entry

“Shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shovel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shovel

1 of 2 noun
shov·​el ˈshəv-əl How to pronounce shovel (audio)
1
: a broad scoop with a handle used for lifting and throwing loose material (as dirt or snow)
2

shovel

2 of 2 verb
shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling
ˈshəv-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to lift and throw with a shovel
shovel snow
2
: to dig or clean out with a shovel
shovel out the sheep pens
3
: to throw or carry roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel
stop shoveling the food into your mouth

More from Merriam-Webster on shovel

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