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

In the Soil Grubs and some types of moth larvae may dig in even deeper and overwinter directly in the soil itself. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026

The president has occasionally made noises about making deals, but the political incentives ahead of the 2028 presidential election are for both sides to dig in. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

But Texans also have something to teach the country about digging in and fighting for a seemingly hopeless cause; conservatives aren’t the only ones who remember the Alamo. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

The kids immediately rushed back, grabbed roasting sticks, and dug in. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 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