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

That pushed the referral deadline to this month and raised questions about whether the deal might proceed after the election, even as Biden dug in. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune Asia, 11 Dec. 2024

Mace has made headlines in recent weeks for her opposition to transgender women using bathrooms in the Capitol complex that match their gender identity — and has been very vocal on social media about digging in on that stance in face of opposition. —Emily Brooks, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

As both sides dug in, Mr. Yoon drastically escalated the showdown on Dec. 3 by declaring martial law – banning all political activities and threatening violators with arrest, putting all media under military control, and prohibiting rallies. —Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Dec. 2024

Well dig in, because your first look at Season 3 is here. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 8 Dec. 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