1
as in excavating
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 enjoying
to take pleasure in
I really dig bluegrass music
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
can you dig what I'm saying?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poking
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
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 digging
Best travel backpack for airplanes Hate digging through your bags to pull out your laptop or tablet at security?
—
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Swimming is allowed, but most kids are happier digging than wading.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2009, Mellencamp explained that the set’s archivist rediscovered this fact when digging through old demos.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
In about four weeks, crews will start digging a detention pond.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Think of it like digging potatoes.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Find files without digging through folders One of the most practical uses is asking Claude to locate files on the computer, such as screenshots, PDFs, notes, decks, receipts, spreadsheets, or templates.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Rafael Nadal, the king of clay, started digging that stereotype’s grave with his evolutions to the sport.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The montage captured the 8-year-old digging a hole in the sand, jumping in the water and swimming in a wetsuit, playing cricket and running on the beach.
—Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Swimming is allowed, but most kids are happier digging than wading.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2009, Mellencamp explained that the set’s archivist rediscovered this fact when digging through old demos.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
In about four weeks, crews will start digging a detention pond.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Think of it like digging potatoes.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Find files without digging through folders One of the most practical uses is asking Claude to locate files on the computer, such as screenshots, PDFs, notes, decks, receipts, spreadsheets, or templates.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Rafael Nadal, the king of clay, started digging that stereotype’s grave with his evolutions to the sport.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The montage captured the 8-year-old digging a hole in the sand, jumping in the water and swimming in a wetsuit, playing cricket and running on the beach.
—Brie Stimson , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for digging
Verb
-
But figuring out what’s excavating without your permission isn’t straightforward.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
-
View gallery - 4 images In northern Switzerland, a construction team is hard at work excavating a hole in the ground that will end up being over 88 ft (27 m) deep, and spanning the length of two soccer pitches.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
In other snaps Hough shared, she was seen wearing several different swimsuits while enjoying some fun under the sun.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Krejczyk and Gagen, meanwhile, are enjoying a season that started rough but has gotten better.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Raman and Pratt are right in deeming Bass the old guard of a beat-up city — but the old guard didn’t get there without knowing how to win.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Instead, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division did little to confront the problem despite knowing about it for years, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS) has found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Nice little Rogen dig here that reminds me of This Is the End poking fun at The Green Hornet.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In response to shouts for everyone to get down, one administration official at a media table crawled under it, with just her high heels poking out.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For now, Brown is savoring his first Oaks win that almost seemed inevitable considering how Always A Runner ran patiently and confidently before turning it through the final turn in the twilight.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
-
In the meantime, Ruff is savoring the final weeks of her high school career and her last go-round as a dual-sport competitor.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The clicks are part of a growing sperm whale phonetic alphabet that researchers at CETI are deciphering.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
London — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was heckled Thursday during a visit to North London, a day after two Jewish men were wounded in a stabbing attack — the latest in a series of incidents that one of Starmer's cabinet members has called an antisemitism emergency.—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
An alleged TikTok antagonist is accused of stabbing a 17-year-old to death outside his New York City apartment building, authorities said.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
But, even if Church’s propensity to recruit nature for heavy-handed symbolism can seem too much today, something about his work—some combination of thrilling ambition, tact tethered to empiricism, and loving tenderness—continues to magnetize our spectacle-jaded eyes.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
There are some clever exchanges, deep confessions and fun-loving moments involving breakfast cereal and TV reruns.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Digging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/digging. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
