dig

verb

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\ ˈdig

dug\ ˈdəg

\; digging

Definition of dig

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to break up, turn, or loosen (earth) with an implement digging dirt with a shovel machines digging up the road

b : to prepare the soil of dig a garden

2a : to bring to the surface by digging : unearth dig potatoes

b : to bring to light or out of hiding dig up facts

3 : to hollow out or form by removing earth : excavate dig a hole dig a tunnel

4 : to drive down so as to penetrate : thrust dug her toes into the sand The hawk dug its claws into its prey.

5 : poke, prod dug me in the ribs with his elbow

6 slang

a : to pay attention to : notice dig that fancy hat

b : understand, appreciate couldn't dig the medical jargon

c : like, admire High school students dig short poetry.— David Burmester

intransitive verb

1 : to turn up, loosen, or remove earth digging in the garden dig for buried treasure

2 : to work hard or laboriously

3 : to advance by or as if by removing or pushing aside material digging into the history of the company

dig

noun

Definition of dig (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : thrust, poke a dig in the ribs

b : a cutting remark a subtle dig at their lack of preparedness

2 digs plural

a : accommodations (see accommodation sense 1a) for living or working buying furniture for his new digs

b chiefly British : lodging sense 2b

3 : an archaeological excavation site also : the excavation itself participated in a dig

dig

abbreviation

Definition of dig (Entry 3 of 3)

digest

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About dig

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Synonyms for dig

Synonyms: Verb

excavate,
shovel

Synonyms: Noun

Examples of dig in a Sentence

Verb Some animal has been digging in the garden. They dug into the sand with their hands. He dug down about 10 feet before he hit water. Dig a hole three feet deep. The first step in building a house is to dig the foundation. The prisoners escaped by digging a tunnel under the fence. digging clams on the beach These detectives won't stop digging until they find out what happened. Noun She gave me a dig in the ribs to get my attention. She participated in a dig last summer.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Setting a high bar prompts your people to dig deep and to reach new heights. — Naz Beheshti, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2021 If your neighbors are not interested in doing this, your only recourse would be to dig a trench 15 or 18 inches deep and install a heavy vinyl pond liner barrier to stop the roots at the property line. — Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Oct. 2021 Firefighters also were on hand to dig fuel breaks and even wrap some of the trees in protective aluminum blankets. — Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Sep. 2021 When removing it from your yard, make sure to dig deep and grab every part of the root system. — Ryan Martin, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2021 Then, dive into the heart of New England culture by setting out on a boat ride to a secret spot to dig and open clams right on the beach — before cooking and eating them. — Molly O'brien, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2021 But dig deeper and the story gets more complicated. — Karen Langley, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2021 But dig a little deeper and the problem for Newsom becomes much more apparent. — Chris Cillizza, CNN, 17 Aug. 2021 The best way to judge if the root zone is sufficiently moistened is to feel below the soil surface with your finger or dig a small hole and feel the soil in the bottom. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 14 Aug. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Madison Carini netted 13 aces, 1 dig, and 4 assists for the Green Wave. — BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2021 The Australians particularly struggled to win points on their serve: An American dig, set and spike always seemed to be waiting for them. — New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021 The comment came across as a dig towards McSweeney’s clothing line and its distinctive sweatshirts. — Vogue, 29 July 2021 Comments from Giroud after France's win over Bulgaria this week were interpreted as a dig at Mbappe and his failure to pass Giroud the ball. — Robert Kidd, Forbes, 11 June 2021 Among the artifacts found during the dig were a glazed ceramic vessel and window glass. — Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Sep. 2021 Make it across, though, and fab views encompass the Hollywood sign, the La Brea Tar Pits and the big dig of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art next door. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2021 One of the main findings from that section of the synagogue, whose ruins have been catalogued and mapped for several years in the current dig, are two mikvahs, or ritual baths, in its compound, the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a statement. — Cnaan Liphshiz, sun-sentinel.com, 1 Sep. 2021 Johnson said that 10,000 to 15,000 people came out to watch the police dig. — Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 7 July 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dig.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.