dugout

noun

dug·​out ˈdəg-ˌau̇t 

1

: a boat made by hollowing out a large log

2

a

: a shelter dug in a hillside

also : a shelter dug in the ground and roofed with sod

b

: an area in the side of a trench for quarters, storage, or protection

3

: either of two low shelters on either side of and facing a baseball diamond that contain the players' benches

Examples of dugout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There also will be dugout repairs, irrigation adjustments and new plantings along the backside of the new home run fence. —Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026

There were no clear signs of things getting better, either, and with all the teams beneath and around them in the table improving, there was little choice but to make a change in the dugout. —Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Marquess was in the dugout for the Cardinal for 41 years. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026

Over the coming years, a team of 57 scientists and local guides explored all the major rivers and tributaries of the Okavango Delta, traversing this vast landscape in dugout canoes, on motorbikes, on foot, and in armored vehicles. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dugout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

dugout

noun

dug·​out ˈdəg-ˌau̇t 

1

: a boat made by hollowing out a log

2

: a shelter dug in a hillside or in the ground

3

: a low shelter facing a baseball diamond and containing the players' bench