shovelful

noun

shov·​el·​ful ˈshə-vəl-ˌfu̇l 

plural shovelfuls ˈshə-vəl-ˌfu̇lz  also shovelsful ˈshə-vəlz-ˌfu̇l 

: as much as a shovel will hold

Examples of shovelful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mourning family members, many who had traveled from Korea, began to throw shovelfuls of dirt onto the woman's casket during burial. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 29 Sep. 2024

Crews scraped the first shovelful of dirt from the top of the earthen dam on May 1, beginning the clearing of another obstacle for people and salmon who rely on the Klamath. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024

Then came the crest and colors, the first shovelfuls for a $150 million training facility and the signing of local teenage goalkeeper Duran Ferree. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2024

Karuk elder Leaf Hillman and his wife, Lisa, were on hand this month to see the first shovelful of dirt scraped from the top of the earthen dam. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

shovelful

noun

shov·​el·​ful ˈshəv-əl-ˌfu̇l 

plural shovelfuls -ˌfu̇lz  also shovelsful -əlz-ˌfu̇l 

: as much as a shovel will hold