dig in

verb

dug in; digging in; digs in

transitive verb

1

: to cover or incorporate by burying

dig in compost

2

: to establish in a dug defensive position

the platoon was well dug in

intransitive verb

1

: to establish a defensive position especially by digging trenches

2

a

: to go resolutely to work

b

: to begin eating

3

: to hold stubbornly to a position

4

: to scuff the ground for better footing while batting (as in baseball)

see also:

dig in one's heels

Examples of dig in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The participants who had wrapped them dug in as Shen performed a traditional Chinese dance on top of a red drum. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026

For those considering fall planting, aim to dig in about 60 to 90 days before the first hard frost arrives. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026

Is the soil a porous, well-draining loam, or a rocky clay that will be hard to dig in and harder to drain? —Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026

With the new outsole compound also comes a multi-directional hex pattern that enables a runner to dig in on soft ground without being overburdensome on pavement. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for dig in

• trigone

Kids Definition

dig in

verb

1

: to dig and take position in a trench

the soldiers dug in

2

a

: to go to work

b

: to begin eating