dig

UK: /ˈdɪg/ US: /dɪg/ ,(dig)

Inflections of 'dig' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

digs

v 3rd person singular

digging

v pres p

dug

v past

dug

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dig¹ /dɪg/   v., dug /dʌg/  dig•ging, n. 
v. 

1. to break up and turn over earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel or spade: [no object]
   We were digging in the tunnel most of the day.
   [~ + object]
   The little gopher digs a maze of tunnels underground.
2. to work by or as if by removing or turning over material:
   [no object] I'll have to dig through the old files.
3. to poke, thrust, or force:
   [~ + object + in(to)] He dug his heels into the ground.
4. dig in, [no object]
   • to keep or maintain one's opinion or position:
     The negotiators dug in and refused to budge.
   • [Informal.] to start eating:
     We dug in as soon as the food came out of the kitchen.
5. dig out:
   • to hollow out by digging* free (something) by digging around: [~ + object + out]
     We dug the car out of the snow.
     [~ + out + object]
     We dug out his car and got it going.
   • to find or discover by searching: [~ + out + object]
     I dug out an old pair of shoes and a jacket from the 60's.
     [ ~ + obj + out + of + obj]:
     Can you dig the material out of the archives?
6. dig up:
   • to discover in the course of digging and remove from the ground: [~ + up + object]
     The rescue workers dug up nearly fifty bodies in the rubble.
     [~ + object + up]
     The coroner dug the body up and performed another autopsy.
   • [~ + up + object] to find or bring to light;
     discover:
     The press dug up another scandal this week.

n. [countable]

7. a thrust;
   poke:
   a quick dig in the ribs.
8. a cutting, sarcastic remark:
   Someone had to get in a dig about my freckles.
9. Archaeology an archaeological site undergoing excavation:
   We visited the dig and saw the tools they had discovered.
10. Informal Terms digs, [plural] living quarters;
    lodgings:
    Hey, these digs are great!

dig•ger, n. [countable]

dig² /dɪg/   v., dug/dʌg/  dig•ging. [Slang.]
v. 

1. Slang Terms to understand: [~ + object]
   Can you dig that?
   [no object]
   I'll be there, you dig?
2. Slang Terms to take notice of;
   look at carefully:
   [~ + object] Dig those shoes he's wearing.
3. Slang Terms to like or enjoy:
   [~ + object] I really dig those styles they wear.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dig¹  (dig), v., dug or (Archaic) digged, dig•ging, n. 
v.i. 

1. to break up, turn over, or remove earth, sand, etc., as with a shovel, spade, bulldozer, or claw;
   make an excavation.
2. to make one's way or work by or as by removing or turning over material:
   to dig through the files.

v.t. 

3. to break up, turn over, or loosen (earth, sand, etc.), as with a shovel, spade, or bulldozer (often fol. by up).
4. Civil Engineering to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, etc.) by removing material.
5. to unearth, obtain, or remove by digging (often fol. by up or out).
6. to find or discover by effort or search.
7. to poke, thrust, or force (usually fol. by in or into):
   He dug his heel into the ground.
8. dig in:
   • to dig trenches, as in order to defend a position in battle.
   • to maintain one's opinion or position.
   • to start eating.
9. dig into, [Informal.] to attack, work, or apply oneself voraciously, vigorously, or energetically:
   to dig into one's work; to dig into a meal.
10. dig out:
    • to remove earth or debris from by digging.
    • to hollow out by digging.
    • to find by searching:
      to dig out facts for a term paper.
11. dig up:
    • to discover in the course of digging.
    • to locate;
      find:
      to dig up information.

n. 

12. thrust;
    poke:
    He gave me a dig in the ribs with his elbow.
13. a cutting, sarcastic remark.
14. Archaeology an archaeological site undergoing excavation.
15. Informal Terms digs, living quarters;
      lodgings.

• Middle Dutch) is attested later and apparently not the immediate source
• 1275–1325; Middle English diggen, perh. representing an Old English derivative of dīc ditch; Middle French diguer to dig (

dig²  (dig), v.t., dug, dig•ging. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms to understand:
   Can you dig what I'm saying?
2. Slang Terms to take notice of:
   Dig those shoes he's wearing.
3. Slang Terms to like, love, or enjoy:
   She digs that kind of music. We really dig each other.

• Irish (an) dtuig(eann tú mé?) do you understand me? and parallel expressions with tuigim I understand (see twig²)
• perh. 1935–40

dig., 

1. digest.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dig / dɪɡ/ verb (digs, digging, dug)

1. when tr, often followed by up: to cut into, break up, and turn over or remove (earth, soil, etc), esp with a spade
2. to form or excavate (a hole, tunnel, passage, etc) by digging, usually with an implement or (of animals) with feet, claws, etc
3. (often followed by through) to make or force (one's way), esp by removing obstructions: he dug his way through the crowd
4. (tr; often followed by out or up) to obtain by digging
5. (tr; often followed by out or up) to find or discover by effort or searching: to dig out unexpected facts
6. (tr; followed by in or into) to thrust or jab (a sharp instrument, weapon, etc); poke
7. (tr; followed by in or into) to mix (compost, etc) with soil by digging
8. (transitive) to like, understand, or appreciate
9. (intransitive) to work hard, esp for an examination

noun

1. the act of digging
2. a thrust or poke, esp in the ribs
3. a cutting or sarcastic remark
4. an archaeological excavation

Etymology: 13th Century diggen, of uncertain origin