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

What happens next For now, both sides appear dug in — but Friday's protest could serve as a turning point in a debate that has largely played out in city council meetings, policy documents, and advocacy campaigns. —Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

For anyone who appreciates comfort food done right — the kind of no-frills, generous cooking that defines great food cities — this is the place to dig in. —Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2026

An international research team examined pieces of turtle shell — dating back some 125,000 years — discovered at the dig in what is now the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026

The Lou Pearlman Story digging in on some claims as well. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 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