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

On the other side of the yellow line, Hamas is digging in, too — regrouping after the war and consolidating control of its part of Gaza. —Daniel Estrin, NPR, 7 Nov. 2025

Schumer has stood firm, and Republicans underestimated how dug in the Democrats were. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025

Saren Rogers had 24 kills, Sophia Baugh had 48 assists and Hailey Wilson had 21 digs in a 3-1 win at Vanguard. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025

So far, legislators on both sides of the aisle are largely dug in to their positions with no quick solution in sight. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025

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