dig

1 of 3

verb

ˈdig 

dug ˈdəg  ; digging

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: 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

3 of 3

abbreviation

digest

Synonyms

Verb

• excavate
• shovel

Noun

• jab
• punch

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For landscapers to completely get rid of bamboo takes a lot of time digging, and lots of herbicide. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

There’s never been a more fruitful age for fans who want to dig under the hood of Springsteen’s process. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025

Noun

The Post got in one last dig when Jeffrey told a reporter outside the court that he was relieved Fleming hadn’t received the death penalty. —Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025

After spending more than a dozen episodes at their luxury Fijian villa, the islanders got some new digs and new companions. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English diggen

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dig

• crate dig
• dig for
• dig in
• dig in one's heels
• dig into
• dig one's own grave
• dig out
• dig up
• infra dig

Rhymes for dig

• big
• brig
• brigg
• fig
• gig
• jig
• mig
• pig
• prig
• rig
• sprig
• swig

Kids Definition

dig

1 of 2 verb

ˈdig 

dug ˈdəg  ; digging

1

a

: to turn up the soil (as with a spade or hoe)

b

: to hollow out or form by removing earth

dig a hole

2

: to uncover or search by or as if by turning up earth

dig potatoes

dig for gold

dig through books for help

3

: find out

dig up the facts

4

: prod entry 1 sense 1, poke

dug me in the ribs

5

a

: to pay attention to : notice

dig that hat

b

: understand sense 1a

you dig me?

c

: like entry 1 sense 1

I dig music

digger noun

dig

2 of 2 noun

1

: poke entry 3, thrust

2

: a harsh remark : gibe

3

: a place where scientists (as archaeologists or paleontologists) try to recover buried objects by digging

also : the process of digging for such objects