shovel
B1Common in everyday, practical, technical (construction, gardening), and informal (eating) contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A tool with a broad blade and a handle, used for digging, lifting, and moving loose material such as soil, coal, gravel, or snow.
Can refer to a similar mechanical device (e.g., 'a steam shovel'), or describe a large amount of food served on a utensil ('a shovel of mashed potatoes'). As a verb, it means to move or clear material with a shovel. Informally, it can mean to consume large amounts of food quickly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core image involves scooping and moving loose, often granular, material. The object moved is typically non-liquid and in pieces (soil, snow, coal). This distinguishes it from 'spade', which often has a flatter, sharper blade for cutting into earth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The term 'spade' is more precisely distinguished in British gardening contexts, whereas in American English, 'shovel' is a more generic term for digging tools. The verb form is equally common in both.
Connotations
Neutral/practical. The informal verb sense 'to shovel food' is slightly more common in AmE.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties due to practical utility.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
shovel somethingshovel something into/onto somethingshovel something outshovel something upshovel something awayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “put to bed with a shovel (archaic, meaning to bury)”
- “shovel something down (to eat quickly and in large amounts)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The project is shovel-ready.' (Meaning all planning is complete and physical construction can begin immediately.)
Academic
Archaeologists used small trowels and brushes, not shovels, to carefully uncover the fragile artifacts.
Everyday
I need to shovel the driveway before we can get the car out.
Technical
The excavator was fitted with a specialized clamshell shovel for the dredging operation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It took him hours to shovel all the wet leaves into bags.
- They had to shovel coal into the furnace twice a day.
American English
- We'll need to shovel the sidewalk after this blizzard.
- He shoveled the food into his mouth and ran out the door.
adverb
British English
- --
American English
- --
adjective
British English
- --
American English
- --
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a shovel. We use it in the garden.
- He has a shovel.
- Can you pass me the shovel? I need to dig a hole here.
- We used a shovel to clear the snow from the path.
- The first step in planting the tree is to shovel out a sufficiently deep hole.
- Volunteers worked tirelessly, shoveling sand into bags to reinforce the flood barriers.
- The company was accused of shoveling vast sums of money into misleading advertising campaigns.
- The archaeological team moved from initial shoveling to delicate brushing as they approached the burial site.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHOVel moving a SHOVel-full of stuff.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHOVELING = moving large amounts of something quickly and laboriously (e.g., 'shoveling paperwork', 'shoveling money into a project').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'лопата' for 'spade'. In English, 'shovel' is the more general, common term. 'Spade' is a specific type, often with a flatter blade.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'shovel' as a countable noun for very small amounts (e.g., 'a shovel of sugar' – 'a spoonful' is better).
- Confusing 'shovel' (for loose material) with 'spade' (for cutting/turning earth).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely task for a standard shovel?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A shovel typically has a broader, curved or angled blade for lifting and moving loose material (soil, snow). A spade often has a flatter, nearly rectangular blade with a sharp edge, designed for cutting into soil and slicing through roots. In general use, 'shovel' is the more common, generic term.
Yes, very commonly. It means to move or clear material with a shovel (e.g., 'shovel snow'). Informally, it can mean to eat something quickly and in large quantities (e.g., 'shovel down your dinner').
Yes, in the specific phrase 'shovel-ready', describing a construction or infrastructure project that is fully planned and permitted, ready for physical work to begin immediately.
It is pronounced /ˈʃʌv(ə)l/. The first syllable rhymes with 'love' or 'above'. The 'o' is a schwa sound /ə/ or is silent, especially in American English.