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

Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees walks back to the dugout after a pitching change in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

In the fifth, third baseman Orlando Arcia singled to right but immediately headed to the dugout after reaching first base. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025

With teams making more decisions based on research from the analytical department, the game-to-game responsibilities are less dependent on the man at the end of the dugout. —Tyler Small, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Teammate Taylor Walls appeared stunned when shown on the YES Network broadcast of the Rays dugout. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2025

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