dig into
phrasal verb
dug into; digging into; digs into
1
: to mix (something) into (soil) by digging
dig the compost into the soil
2
informal
: to begin eating (something)
The family was digging into a delicious meal.
They dug into their steaks.
3
somewhat informal
: to try to learn or uncover information by studying (something)
The detectives dug into his past and learned that he had once lived in another country.
4
: to push against (a body part) in a sharp and painful way
The bed's springs are digging into my back.
Her fingernails dug into my hand.
5
: to push (something) into (a body part) in a sharp and painful way
She dug her fingernails into my hand.
He dug his elbow into my ribs.
Examples of dig into in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this new study, a team from the universities of Cambridge and Oxford in England dug into the sediment from a third century sewer drain coming from the latrine within the fort’s bath complex.
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Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Dec. 2025
Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt’s grisly and sharp-toothed Cinderella riff digs into this contemporary moment through its much older political roots.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
The lawn was hard to dig into at first.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Make sure to bring in all items once delivery services are done for the day, to prevent any unwanted critters from digging into the treats and from drinks freezing overnight.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dig into
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Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Dec. 2025
Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt’s grisly and sharp-toothed Cinderella riff digs into this contemporary moment through its much older political roots.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
The lawn was hard to dig into at first.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Make sure to bring in all items once delivery services are done for the day, to prevent any unwanted critters from digging into the treats and from drinks freezing overnight.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dig into
Cite this Entry
“Dig into.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dig%20into. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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