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

Colorado got that run back in the bottom of the frame thanks to Johnston’s no-doubt homer to right, and the right fielder was greeted with a new celebratory purple fur coat in the dugout following the 407-foot mash. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026

Having that in our dugout and having that in our program can really help and inspire others. —Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026

Kansas City Royals starter Noah Cameron took his usual pre-game stroll in front of the visiting team’s dugout at Progressive Field on Tuesday afternoon. —Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026

Many of them were in a three-row group in Section 8 behind the Reds’ dugout along the first-base line. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 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