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

Young is more inward, stoic, but ready to get a good dig in when it’s called for. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026

What’s needed is a thoughtful discussion and, for now, both sides are dug in. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026

This type of mine has never been dug in Minnesota before, and conservation groups say that a mine like this has never been built without creating pollution in some form. —Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 Jan. 2026

Within 20 minutes of digging in the sand pit, fire personnel pulled Watts from the cave-in. —Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 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