# excavate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɛk.skə.veɪt/ · frequency rank #43,632

## Definitions
1. To make a hole in (something); to hollow.
2. To remove part of (something) by scooping or digging it out.
3. To uncover (something) by digging.

## Etymology
First attested in 1599, from Latin excavātus (“hollowed out”), perfect passive participle of excavō (“to hollow out”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ex (“out”) + cavō (“to hollow out, pierce”), from cavus (“cave, hole”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). Participial usage up until Early Modern English.

## Easily confused with
- **excavator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/excavate-vs-excavator)
- **escalate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/escalate-vs-excavate)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ecxavate`, `exacvate`, `excaavte`, `excavaet`, `excavatte`, `excavtae`, `excavvate`, `exccavate`, `excvaate`, `exxcavate`, `xecavate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/excavate