dig into

phrasal verb

dug into; digging into; digs into

1

: to mix (something) into (soil) by digging

dig the compost into the soil

2

informal : to begin eating (something)

The family was digging into a delicious meal.

They dug into their steaks.

3

somewhat informal : to try to learn or uncover information by studying (something)

The detectives dug into his past and learned that he had once lived in another country.

4

: to push against (a body part) in a sharp and painful way

The bed's springs are digging into my back.

Her fingernails dug into my hand.

5

: to push (something) into (a body part) in a sharp and painful way

She dug her fingernails into my hand.

He dug his elbow into my ribs.

Examples of dig into in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rudy digs into Donny Ray’s medical records and finds that one of the nurses who treated Donny was — Melvin Pritcher! —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025

Samatar uses the letter form to dig into the meatiness—and the occasional fraughtness—of friendship. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025

Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery dominated the battlefield, and both sides’ infantry were dug into trenches. —Eric Schmidt, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2025

Vox dug into why—and what constant scrolling has to do with it. —Alexandra Meier, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Rhymes for dig into

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue