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

Cats, for example, tend to avoid digging in areas covered with uneven, prickly materials. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 6 May 2026

The company’s leadership initially digs in its heels. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 4 May 2026

Impressive padding at the heels eliminates the threat of blisters while keeping your feet feeling fresh, and the elastic straps atop each shoe hold your feet firmly in place without digging in or causing irritation. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026

This team knows how to flip a switch and dig in when the pressure rises. —Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 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