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)

Phrases

dig in one's heels

: to take or persist in an uncompromising position or attitude despite opposition

Examples of dig in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So let’s dig in on this rollicking little baseball game Friday evening in Toronto. —Jayson Stark, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

The looming lapse in SNAP funding comes as both Republicans and Democrats dig in their heels over the shutdown. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025

Set it, forget it, and dig in come suppertime. —Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025

Archaeologists in Turkey recently completed digs in the ancient city of Dülük in the Gaziantep Province of south-central Turkey, according to Anadolu Agency (AA). —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1827, 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