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 Look no further than this takeout-only dig in Hollywood. Kara Peeler, Sunset Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024 And for good reason: these spots are where the baseline Challenger 2—which was designed to fight straight ahead while dug in—is most vulnerable. David Axe, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 Netanyahu has dug in his heels and recently rebuffed requests from Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reconsider a looming military offensive on Rafah. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2024 Archaeologists digging in El Caño Archaeological Park in Panama have just uncovered the shared tomb of an important Coclé lord buried around 750 to 800 C.E. El Caño is a rich archaeological site known for its ancient burial grounds. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024 Make sure each layer contains some of everything, then season it with salt and pepper, dress it with your vinaigrette, and dig in. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 15 Mar. 2024 What is unclear now, though, is how much longer that support will last, especially if Russian war casualties mount, crackdowns on dissent gather pace and economic hardships dig in. Matthew Chance, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 Once the loose powder is packed down, the steel digs in, and the Flexible Flyer is tough to beat for speed. Heather Balogh Rochfort, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 So, that acknowledges that there’s a real problem to be solved here and people are excited to dig in and figure out how to solve it. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dig in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near dig in

Cite this Entry

“Dig in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dig%20in. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on dig in

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