dugout

noun

dug·​out ˈdəg-ˌau̇t 

1

: a boat made by hollowing out a large log

2

a

: a shelter dug in a hillside

also : a shelter dug in the ground and roofed with sod

b

: an area in the side of a trench for quarters, storage, or protection

3

: either of two low shelters on either side of and facing a baseball diamond that contain the players' benches

Examples of dugout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Xabi Alonso has to tidy things up at Real Madrid Now in the dugout after Carlo Ancelotti took the Brazil job, former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is tasked with changing the culture at the club, which could prove key to Los Blancos getting back on track and derailing Barca. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in the dugout in the first inning during a game against the Athletics at Dodger Stadium on May 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

The senior let out a roar in celebration as his teammates mobbed him at the dugout. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025

The emotional relief finally came as pitcher Ryan Papa forced a routine groundout to first base and the Guardians stormed out of their dugout for another celebratory moment. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dugout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

dugout

noun

dug·​out ˈdəg-ˌau̇t 

1

: a boat made by hollowing out a log

2

: a shelter dug in a hillside or in the ground

3

: a low shelter facing a baseball diamond and containing the players' bench