dig in

verb

dug in; digging in; digs in

transitive verb

1

: to cover or incorporate by burying

dig in compost

2

: to establish in a dug defensive position

the platoon was well dug in

intransitive verb

1

: to establish a defensive position especially by digging trenches

2

a

: to go resolutely to work

b

: to begin eating

3

: to hold stubbornly to a position

4

: to scuff the ground for better footing while batting (as in baseball)

Phrases

dig in one's heels

: to take or persist in an uncompromising position or attitude despite opposition

Examples of dig in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because they aren’t fully engaged, these young people don’t represent the large majority of voters, who are deeply dug in on their vote choice. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024

In 2021, archaeologists digging in Augsburg, Germany, discovered a huge collection of over 5,500 Roman denarius coins. —Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024

Off the island, the resort arranges for hikes on the mainland and visits to the archaeological digs in AlUla. —Prasad Ramamurthy, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2024

Where that would be enough to make most folks mind their own business, Leigh digs in. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

dig in

verb

1

: to dig and take position in a trench

the soldiers dug in

2

a

: to go to work

b

: to begin eating