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

The result is a restrained, fitfully compelling character portrait of a former priest turned archaeologist (Stellan Skarsgård, excellent) who discovers a young boy possessed by the devil on a dig in the Turkana region of British Kenya. —Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025

Archaeologists find lavish thermal spa in Pompeii An intricate thermal spa complex was uncovered in a recent dig in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, this is a poor day to dig in your heels over something with parents, bosses or family members. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2025

Met Gala to a dusty archaeological dig in 1930s Egypt in this masterful historical mystery centering on a cursed ancient artifact. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025

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