What does shovelful mean?
A shovelful is the amount of material that can be held in a shovel at one time, commonly used for soil, sand, coal, snow, or another loose substance. The word often conveys a manageable but substantial quantity: removing a shovelful of earth from a garden, for example, is physically demanding without being excessive. In informal contexts, it can also mean a very large amount of something, especially money, work, food, or trouble. Because the measure is defined by the capacity of a shovel rather than by weight or volume, it is especially useful when precision is unimportant. The expression has a practical, concrete quality that makes descriptions vivid, while its extended figurative use conveys abundance or an unexpectedly large burden.
nounThe quantity of material that can be held in a shovel at one time. It may also refer informally to a large amount of something.
- The amount of material that can be carried in a shovel at one time.
- An informal large quantity of something.
"He removed a shovelful of soil from the flowerbed."
"The workers moved several shovelfuls of gravel from the path."
"The child was given a shovelful of ice cream."
Both plural spellings are standard; the singular form remains unchanged.
"They loaded several shovelfuls of sand onto the cart."
A shovelful measures what a shovel can hold, turning an ordinary tool into a handy unit of quantity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shovelful come from?
The word is a compound of shovel and the Middle English suffix -ful, meaning “full.” Both elements were established in Middle English, with the form continuing in modern English as a conventional measure of a shovel's capacity. The unusual plural spellings shovelfuls and shovelsful preserve the traditional formation of the compound.
Related word forms
How shovelful is actually used
In its literal sense, it is used for loose material that can be scooped with a shovel. The informal sense, as in a shovelful of money or work, means a large amount.
Easily confused with shovelful
Shovelsful is an alternative plural spelling of the same noun; the singular form is unchanged.