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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Acknowledging mistakes and reversing course rather than digging in is a mark of true leadership. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 24 July 2025 Voters are pretty dug in on Trump-Russia one way or the other by now. W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 24 July 2025 The crisis for Ukrainian forces was dealt with by their 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 68th Jaeger Brigade but Russia intended to dig in and await reinforcements as a hunt continue for Russian sabotage groups, DeepState said. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025 Your favorite Internet mother-and-daughter duo has left behind their longtime digs in North Carolina to start over in the Big Apple, and no one is more excited than the beloved 6-year-old. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dig in

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dig in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dig%20in. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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

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