Meaning

(transitive, intransitive) To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive, intransitive) To move hard-packed earth out of the way, especially downward to make a hole with a shovel. Or to drill, or the like, through rocks, roads, or the like. More generally, to make any similar hole by moving material out of the way.
2. (transitive) To get by digging; to take from the ground; often with up.
3. (mining) To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making excavations in search of ore.
4. (US, slang, dated) To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously.
5. (figurative) To investigate, to research, often followed by out or up.
6. To thrust; to poke.
7. (volleyball) To defend against an attack hit by the opposing team by successfully passing the ball
8. An archeological or paleontological investigation, or the site where such an investigation is taking place.

Example Sentences

They dug an eight-foot ditch along the side of the road.

In the wintertime, heavy truck tires dig into the road, forming potholes.

If the plane can't pull out of the dive it is in, it'll dig a hole in the ground.

My seven-year-old son always digs a hole in the middle of his mashed potatoes and fills it with gravy before he starts to eat them.

Miss Thorn began digging up the turf with her lofter: it was a painful moment for me. ¶ “You might at least have tried me, Mrs. Cooke,” I said.

to dig potatoes

to dig up gold

Peter dug at his books all the harder.

Word Forms

• digs
• digging
• dug
• digged

Synonyms for dig

Related Words

When Should You Use Dig?

Use dig when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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