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
Three months after the publication of Devout, David Archuleta is both digging deeper into the journey that led him to write his memoir and finding more balance in his life since the New York Times best seller debuted.
—
Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Geothermal heat is basically free once the system is constructed, though digging the boreholes can be a considerable expense.
—Ishan Thakore, NPR, 20 May 2026
Attaching hardware cloth is usually enough to deter armadillos from digging around under foundations, says Dykes.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
The wheels were set in motion, and Kubicek started digging to find out whether anything like it had been done before.
—Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
No digging through complicated settings or waiting around for a full system overhaul.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
Schedule release videos have become one of the biggest NFL events of the year with various teams digging deep in their creative bag.
—Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
The bones of the Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis (aka Nagatitan) would rest there for millions of years, until paleontologists digging near a pond in northeastern Thailand found them.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 May 2026
The status quo is corporations digging wells far beneath what local Texans can dig.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Geothermal heat is basically free once the system is constructed, though digging the boreholes can be a considerable expense.
—Ishan Thakore, NPR, 20 May 2026
Attaching hardware cloth is usually enough to deter armadillos from digging around under foundations, says Dykes.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
The wheels were set in motion, and Kubicek started digging to find out whether anything like it had been done before.
—Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
No digging through complicated settings or waiting around for a full system overhaul.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
Schedule release videos have become one of the biggest NFL events of the year with various teams digging deep in their creative bag.
—Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
The bones of the Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis (aka Nagatitan) would rest there for millions of years, until paleontologists digging near a pond in northeastern Thailand found them.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 May 2026
The status quo is corporations digging wells far beneath what local Texans can dig.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for digging
Verb
-
Her protagonist, Arizona, travels from Harvard University’s historic surgical theater to the Catacombs of Paris, excavating medical histories to try and resolve the complexities of her father’s death.—
Arizona O'Neill,
Longreads,
19 May 2026
-
How to Identify a Carpenter Ant Various species of wood-excavating carpenter ants exist, but the most common home invader is the black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus).—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The TikTok noise seems to have translated to ticket sales, with the low-budget horror film enjoying a 30% box office boost in its second weekend, a rare feat.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Now baseball is heading toward another high-stakes labor negotiation with the sport enjoying strong momentum on the field, but with the same basic financial fight bubbling under the surface.—
Dan Zaksheske,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Knicks fans are hoping to break their 53-year championship drought, knowing a title would also silence one of Jalen Brunson’s biggest critics.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 May 2026
-
Just their approach every single day, just how to come in, taking responsibility knowing what to do and how to do it.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
In partnership with Underdog, a popular daily fantasy sports (DFS) and pick'em betting platform, Brooks revealed a one-of-a-kind board game poking fun at SGA.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
Plenty of skilled directors can manipulate tension and fear while still poking us toward nervous laughter.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Venus and Jupiter align in nurturing Cancer on June 9, one of the sweeter transits of the year, bringing a collective focus on joy, intimacy, and the small moments worth savoring.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
-
But for now, Koeninger is savoring the final moments of his baseball career at Keller High School.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Authorities allege Medina was involved in a May 19 stabbing at Narragansett Town Beach as hundreds of teenagers packed the area.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
-
Also Thursday, Florida is scheduled to execute Richard Knight for the 2000 stabbing deaths of a pregnant woman and her 4-year-old daughter.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Unlike sun-loving tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers, which require full sunlight to mature and produce fruit, vegetables that grow in the shade are primarily grown for their leaves or roots.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
-
Fans have been loving Boston Blue, and thankfully it was renewed for a second season.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Digging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/digging. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
