A shovel is a tool that helps you dig or move dirt, sand, or snow. It has a flat or curved metal blade and a long handle.
He used a shovel to dig the garden.
I need a shovel to clear the snow.
To shovel means to use a shovel to move dirt, snow, or other materials. People shovel to clean or build something.
She shoveled snow from the driveway.
They shoveled dirt into the hole.
A shovel can mean a big amount of something that fits on a shovel. People use it when talking about food or materials.
He took a shovel of coal to the fire.
She ate a shovel of rice quickly.
In construction and mining, a shovel is a large machine with a big scoop. It moves heavy earth or rocks to help build or dig.
The shovel moved the dirt quickly.
A big shovel works on the building site.
To shovel can mean to push or move things fast and roughly, like moving food or objects quickly with your hands or a tool.
He shoveled the papers off his desk.
She shoveled food onto her plate fast.
People say shovel to mean working fast or hard to finish something, like finishing jobs quickly without stopping.
She shoveled through the paperwork fast.
We need to shovel this work tonight.
In older or regional English, shovel sometimes means to throw or toss things quickly by hand or tool. This use is less common today.
He shoveled the ball across the field.
They shoveled stones into the cart.
