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

Boone didn’t get to watch the disastrous half-inning from the dugout, as he was ejected in the top of the sixth. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

That followed a single by Angel Genoa on a grounder up the middle that Bogaerts nabbed but threw into the Padres dugout, allowing Genoa to get to second base. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

When Doyle returned to the dugout, teammate Chase Meidroth placed a pope hat on his head. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Freddie Freeman apparently avoided serious injury Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman took a frightening tumble down the stairs and into the visitors' dugout while trying to catch a foul popup in the eighth inning. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

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