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, that acknowledges that there’s a real problem to be solved here and people are excited to dig in and figure out how to solve it. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 Many of its own managers, in headquarters and elsewhere, started questioning the wisdom of digging in against the unionizing workers. Roy Bahat, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 One of its six landing legs apparently dug in, or got caught on a rock or stuck in a crevice, causing the 14-foot-tall Odysseus to topple over on its side. William Harwood, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2024 Discovered during an archaeological dig in Tel Hazor in 2022, the seal depicts a dramatic battle sequence. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 Russian forces have been trying to advance on the town since October and have surrounded it on three sides, leaving limited resupply routes for the Ukrainian troops dug in there. Reuters, NBC News, 15 Feb. 2024 Available in sizes ranging from XXS to XXL, alongside six spring-ready colors, these pants boast a dreamy relaxed fit while a mid-rise elastic waistband promises to never dig in — even during an hours-long flight. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2024 Farther back are multiple sets of muddy trenches – all indications Ukraine is digging in for a long defense. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 The pair dug in, their research enabled by a major breakthrough by another Japanese scientist in 2012: The physicist Fusa Miyake discovered that superflares appeared to leave datable signatures in tree rings. Kim Beil, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dig in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dig in was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near dig in

Cite this Entry

“Dig in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dig%20in. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on dig in

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