delve

verb \ ˈdelv \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of delve

delved; delving

transitive verb

archaic : excavate

intransitive verb

1 : to dig or labor with or as if with a spade

delved into her handbag in search of a pen

2 a : to make a careful or detailed search for information

delved into the past

b : to examine a subject in detail

the book delves into the latest research

won't delve into her reason for leaving

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delver

noun

See delve defined for English-language learners

See delve defined for kids

delve was our Word of the Day on 10/12/2015. Hear the podcast!

Examples of delve in a Sentence

He tried to delve inside his memory for clues about what had happened.

Recent Examples of delve from the Web

Researchers also need to delve into potential solutions, such as exploring whether high school courses can be effective in teaching students to recognize illegitimate news sources, the paper says.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "Bots alone spread fake news? False! says Science mag study," 8 Mar. 2018
The center also produces longer research reports that delve into select topic – like the community impacts of dairy workers – in great detail.

— mark rudin, idahostatesman, "At Idaho colleges, we help state and local policymakers chart right courses | Idaho Statesman," 2 Mar. 2018
Frooman said the board will appoint a committee and a chairman to delve into the issue and make recommendations to the board of education at some point this year.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Forest Hills school board will take on topic of Anderson High School logo," 22 Feb. 2018
Felix Hernandez, well, no need to delve into the uncertainty surrounding him.

— larry stone, The Seattle Times, "Many top free-agent pitchers are there for the taking — and the Mariners should sign one," 12 Feb. 2018
Not necessarily, but then again, the very next section of the speech delved into the story of an immigration agent who fought the brutal MS-13 gang.

— tessa berenson, Time, "President Trump's Big Speech Was Harsher Than It Sounded," 31 Jan. 2018
The report delves into the story of three cities trying to tackle road safety issues: Nairobi, Kenya; Mumbai, India; and Bogota, Colombia.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "Safer roads in cities are possible, but politics holding us back, says report," 23 Mar. 2018
Besides delving into difficult topics, though, Bernie and the play also make a great case for the place of Jewish humor in American life.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Roustabouts Theatre's 'A Jewish Joke' lands with humor and heft," 20 Mar. 2018
And the show delves into the trials and triumphs of one of America's wealthiest and sometimes unhappy and challenged family, the Gettys.

— Fox News, "Illegal charged in Kate Steinle's death files complaint," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'delve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Digging Up the History of delve

We must dig deep into the English language's past to find the origins of "delve." The verb originated in 9th century Old English as "delfan" and is related to the Old High German word telban, meaning "dig." For some 400 years, there was only delving - no digging - because "dig" didn't exist until the 13th century. Is the phrase "dig and delve" (as in the line "eleven, twelve, dig and delve," from the nursery rhyme that begins "one, two, buckle my shoe") redundant? Not necessarily. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, in some local uses as recently as the late 19th century, "dig" was the term for working with a mattock (a tool similar to an adze or a pick), while "delve" was reserved for using a spade.