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

Democrats in the Senate are digging in on the other side. —Garrett Downs, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026

Fluffy, with a golden exterior and pale white interior, this cake looked impressive even before digging in. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026

After all, the sessions are full of everything a developing brain needs — kids play with fun gardening tools, dig in dirt without getting in trouble and run rampant around an open farm. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026

With conservatives demanding concessions, Democrats digging in over immigration enforcement, and virtually no margin for error, Johnson must again test how far presidential pressure can go in a House divided almost evenly down the middle. —Nik Popli, Time, 2 Feb. 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