dig in

verb

dug in; digging in; digs in

transitive verb

1

: to cover or incorporate by burying

dig in compost

2

: to establish in a dug defensive position

the platoon was well dug in

intransitive verb

1

: to establish a defensive position especially by digging trenches

2

a

: to go resolutely to work

b

: to begin eating

3

: to hold stubbornly to a position

4

: to scuff the ground for better footing while batting (as in baseball)

see also dig in one's heels

Examples of dig in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The soft, silky material feels nice against bare skin, and the elastic waistband stays in place throughout the day without digging in. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2026

Everybody digs in and makes each other better. —Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Jan. 2026

But this time, the two sides appear to be digging in. —Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

But European leaders — digging in and vowing to defend Denmark and its control over semiautonomous Greenland — may be seeking just as hard to meet an extraordinary moment with a show of their fierce resolve. —Jamey Keaten, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for dig in

• trigone

Kids Definition

dig in

verb

1

: to dig and take position in a trench

the soldiers dug in

2

a

: to go to work

b

: to begin eating