dig 1 of 2

verb

ˈdig How to pronounce dig (audio)
Definition of dignext
1
as in to excavate
to hollow out or form (something) by removing earth a backhoe dug a hole in the backyard to make a swimming pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to enjoy
to take pleasure in I really dig bluegrass music

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to know
to have a clear idea of can you dig what I'm saying?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to poke
to urge or push forward with or as if with a pointed object every time I slowed down, he'd dig me in the ribs

Synonyms & Similar Words

dig

2 of 2

noun

1
as in jab
a quick thrust gave him a dig in the ribs with my elbow

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings got in a couple of digs about lawyers at my friend's expense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in apartment
digs plural a room or set of rooms in a private house or a block used as a separate dwelling place check out my new digs on the north side of town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dig
Verb
But this incident gives the organization a chance to dig even deeper into the community. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 4 July 2026 But there are critics who say Warsh doesn’t always dig deep enough, particularly when sharing his worldview publicly. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Noun
Another legislator, Bill Heffernan, also part of the West Haven Historical Society is trying to secure funding to have an archeological dig to resume so it can be verified that Campbell is buried there. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) recovered 117 intact dead dogs, many with gunshot wounds, in dig sites at Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna this week, according to a June 26 press release from HCSO. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dig
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dig
  1. excavate
  2. enjoy
  3. know
  4. poke
  5. jab
  6. insult
  7. apartment
  8. shovel
Verb
  • Last summer, archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Olympus uncovered the remains of a fifth-century Christian church, bearing an inscription hidden for more than 1,000 years.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
  • Genetic analysis also resolved longstanding questions about the Golden Man, whose Scythian burial mound, called a kurgan, dates back to around 400 BC to 300 BC and was excavated in 1969 at a site in Kazakhstan.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of excavate
Verb
  • Defense stocks have enjoyed a bumper year in 2026, as conflicts from Ukraine to Iran increase demand for munitions worldwide.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • With estimated sales totaling €32 billion and a growth rate between 4-6% for 2025, jewelry seems to be enjoying its brightest summer yet.
    — Milena Martins-Alexandre, Vogue, 6 July 2026
Definition of enjoy
Verb
  • Cape Verde 40-year-old goalkeeper Josimar Jose Evora Dias, also known as Vozinha, became a fan favorite along the way.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • The surgeons used forceps to grab at a loop that was poking into view and then needed multiple tugs to gently slide out the rest.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
  • Social media video showed snakes poking their heads above the muddy water inundating the village.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Definition of poke
Noun
  • They were controlled by two sets of levers, with plastic buttons that made the combatants throw left jabs and right uppercuts.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • This response could be seen as a subtle jab at Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts and ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • The insults often accompany reports and even videos of kids and teens engaging in reckless riding — weaving through traffic, running stop signs, ignoring pedestrians, and performing stunts like wheelies in opposing lanes, sometimes without helmets.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
  • During the night shift at Illinois's The Wiener's Circle, sassy Poochi Rollins slings Chicago red hots loaded with mustard, relish, onions, and more—with a side of insult comedy.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Definition of insult
Noun
  • Residential buildings were badly damaged in the assault, leaving people trapped in multi-story apartment blocks and an entire family that was killed pulled from the rubble, while cars were seen burning on city streets.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Roseville has a new apartment community that offers a different take on traditional apartment living in Placer County.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of apartment
Verb
  • Those mounds of soil — not apparent in the photograph — were consistent with digging a hole as dirt is shoveled out and dumped along the edge.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • With the work now being migration, most programs are still shoveling, counting tasks and missing the structure.
    — Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of shovel

Phrases Containing dig

Browse Nearby Words

diffusion
dig
dig (away)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dig.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dig. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dig

Nglish: Translation of dig for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All