digging

verb

present participle of dig
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

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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 Choose a shade-tolerant grass suited to your region, and avoid digging or tilling near the roots. — Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026 The song came from his feelings about taking action at ground level, literally digging his fingers into the dirt. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 28 Sep. 2026 Sportsbooks could do the same to losers who are digging deeper and deeper holes. — Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 26 Sep. 2026 In all, Violins is a welcome addition to Blondshell’s discography, building on her familiar sound while digging deeper into her already precise and poignant songwriting. — Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 25 Sep. 2026 Duford recommends digging a test hole in your garden bed and closely examining the soil. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 25 Sep. 2026 Skunks will systematically dig for food across your yard, digging holes every few inches. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 2026 The avocado green kitchen—once considered an outdated vestige from the ’70s—is now back in fashion, and design experts are totally digging the retro vibe. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2026 In 2011, Iowa farmers found a Chinese national on his knees in a cornfield, digging through the soil. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for digging
  1. excavating
  2. enjoying
  3. knowing
  4. poking
  5. savoring
  6. deciphering
  7. stabbing
  8. loving
Verb
  • Energy companies might save substantial capital by tapping naturally occurring subterranean structures rather than excavating artificial caverns or modifying depleted reservoirs.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Archaeologists excavating Hattusa, the former capital of the Hittite Empire in what is now Turkey, discovered a fragment of a clay tablet inscribed with Akkadian cuneiform, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of excavating
Verb
  • Zada is also the rare actor who admits to watching his own performances—and enjoying them.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
  • With the bread flour, the end result is a lovely, crowd-pleasing bun that’s great for snacking on its own or enjoying alongside a special holiday meal.
    — Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoying
Verb
  • So how did that work out for you, with this whole world applauding you for this, and then knowing people are pissed off too?
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Maryna Lystopad, 35, said her hair has started falling out due to the stress from escalating attacks and never knowing where the next attack will hit.
    — Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of knowing
Verb
  • Sometimes only the tips of the reeds and the seed heads were visible, poking above the murky water, and other times the reeds stood fully exposed, with a clear view of crabs clambering around their bases.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Video posted to social media showed one car nearly submerged, with just its sunroof poking above the water, as people moved other vehicles farther from the rising tides.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of poking
Verb
  • Today, John Moffitt is running a growing, successful business, raising a young daughter, savoring the good days when things run smoothly, working through the days when the wireless gives out, or ingredients run out before the customers do.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This leaves plenty of funds to spend on exploring some of the city’s most eclectic neighborhoods, savoring the culinary scene, wandering through world-class museums, and shopping at chic boutiques and galleries.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of savoring
Verb
  • Come early to mingle with the cast, in character, of course, who may or may not need your help in deciphering some puzzles.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • For these scrolls, the best method for virtually unrolling and deciphering text would be to scan for lead first, according to Seiler.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of deciphering
Verb
  • The stabbing victim had earlier told Calaveras County sheriff’s deputies that he was attacked in the 1200 block of South Main Street in Angels Camp, but deputies found no evidence of an attack there.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Azaria was sentenced to 18 months in prison for killing Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, who was one of two men accused of stabbing another Israeli soldier in Hebron.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • In fact, the book’s depiction of Nick’s friendship and burgeoning relationship with Daisy’s golf-loving best friend Jordan Baker is upgraded to a torrid romance with its own love song and bedroom scenes that match Daisy’s and Gatsby’s.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In opening statements, prosecutors elaborated on that claim, saying Weinberg also traded on stories and pictures of his three children, presenting himself as a loving father looking for an outlet for his creative passion as an amateur shutterbug.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of loving

Browse Nearby Words

diggers
digging
digging (away)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Digging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/digging. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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