dig

verb

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\ ˈdig

dug\ ˈdəg

\; digging

Definition of dig

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to break up, turn, or loosen (earth) with an implement digging dirt with a shovel machines digging up the road

b : to prepare the soil of dig a garden

2a : to bring to the surface by digging : unearth dig potatoes

b : to bring to light or out of hiding dig up facts

3 : to hollow out or form by removing earth : excavate dig a hole dig a tunnel

4 : to drive down so as to penetrate : thrust dug her toes into the sand The hawk dug its claws into its prey.

5 : poke, prod dug me in the ribs with his elbow

6 slang

a : to pay attention to : notice dig that fancy hat

b : understand, appreciate couldn't dig the medical jargon

c : like, admire High school students dig short poetry.— David Burmester

intransitive verb

1 : to turn up, loosen, or remove earth digging in the garden dig for buried treasure

2 : to work hard or laboriously

3 : to advance by or as if by removing or pushing aside material digging into the history of the company

dig

noun

Definition of dig (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : thrust, poke a dig in the ribs

b : a cutting remark a subtle dig at their lack of preparedness

2 digs plural

a : accommodations (see accommodation sense 1a) for living or working buying furniture for his new digs

b chiefly British : lodging sense 2b

3 : an archaeological excavation site also : the excavation itself participated in a dig

dig

abbreviation

Definition of dig (Entry 3 of 3)

digest

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing dig Learn More About dig

Synonyms for dig

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Examples of dig in a Sentence

Verb Some animal has been digging in the garden. They dug into the sand with their hands. He dug down about 10 feet before he hit water. Dig a hole three feet deep. The first step in building a house is to dig the foundation. The prisoners escaped by digging a tunnel under the fence. digging clams on the beach These detectives won't stop digging until they find out what happened. Noun She gave me a dig in the ribs to get my attention. She participated in a dig last summer. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb To dig into more info about the upcoming title, SPIN spoke with Street Fighter 6’s producer Shuhei Matsumoto and lead composer Yoshiya Terayama through a translator after fighting games’ biggest weekend, the Evolution Championship Series. — Josh Chesler, SPIN, 10 Aug. 2022 The museum also offers half and full-day outings with a professional paleontologist, where kids get to dig for bones in a working quarry. — Will Mcgough, CNN, 29 July 2022 Rescuers said conditions downslope from the glacier, which has been melting for decades, were still too unstable to immediately send teams of people and dogs to dig into tons of debris. — Frances D'emilio, BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2022 Milan opened talks with Torino and expected to conclude a deal quickly, only for Toro’s Urbano Cairo to dig his heels in. — Adam Digby, Forbes, 1 July 2022 While some of the reps grandstand or dig their heels in, a majority of the group has formed a separate alliance and is working to address the DEI issues raised by the Globes scandal on an industry-wide scale. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 27 June 2022 This directorial debut from B.J. Novak, who also stars, follows a New York City journalist who travels to Texas to dig into investigate the mysterious death of a young woman with whom he was romantically involved. — The Editors, Town & Country, 8 June 2022 Each year, dozens of volunteers and staff biologists don waders and venture into the silty banks of rivers and lakes to dig for dragonfly larvae in the sediment. — Elissa Welle, Detroit Free Press, 28 May 2022 Carrots need plenty of room to dig deep in the soil, Fitzpatrick said. — Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun That isn’t a dig against comics, which are their own medium, but beyond the mere exploitation of IP, the only reason to make these adaptations is to Bring Them to Life. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The comment was a subtle dig on United States president's current strategy with Mexico. — Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 12 July 2022 That question — from social media trolls, television personalities and needling sports fans — was a dig at Durant, but its sharp edge wounded Curry, too. — New York Times, 13 June 2022 The messaging is a clear dig at Spotify (SPOT) and possibly an attempt by Apple (AAPL) to use Spotify's PR headache to gain some ground. — Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 28 Jan. 2022 The header is a clear dig at Spotify, which has become the subject of scorn after purging Young’s catalog from the platform Wednesday at the rocker’s request, due to COVID-19 vaccine information spread by Spotify’s Joe Rogan Experience podcast. — Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2022 Now a 19th-century extension to Canton’s historic Tilden House is the site of a full-fledged archeological dig. — Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 In fact, among the tour merchandise at the United Center, there’s a T-shirt with a clever dig at the audience’s voyeurism. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2022 Or, an aspiring claim owner with deep pockets can buy Dust Devil Mining, a you-dig operation in Oregon’s Lake County, and sit back and watch rockhounds pick at the ground, hoping to strike sunstone, the state’s official gemstone. — oregonlive, 8 July 2022 See More

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