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
shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling
ˈshə-və-liŋ 
ˈshəv-liŋ
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
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
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Flattening and Excavation One of the best ways to eliminate existing ant hills is to level the ant hill with a rake or shovel.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Joe Vardon, New York Times, 31 May 2025
He's also noticed that workers often shovel coal in bouts, working hard in teams of two or three, and then all taking breaks together.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shovel
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Noun
After the capsule was lowered into its hole, many members of the crowd took turns using a shovel to cover it.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Flattening and Excavation One of the best ways to eliminate existing ant hills is to level the ant hill with a rake or shovel.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Verb
After Hart shoveled the ball to Jalen Brunson, Andrew Nembhard stymied Brunson, causing the ball to go out of bounds and nearly forcing a turnover.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 31 May 2025
He's also noticed that workers often shovel coal in bouts, working hard in teams of two or three, and then all taking breaks together.
—Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shovel
Cite this Entry
“Shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shovel. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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