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)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Deutsch, who has been guiding tours for 16 years at the City of David, explained that in 1867, Queen Victoria sent Captain Charles Warren to dig in the Mount Moriah area. 
Marion Fischel, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Rosie and veterans who had come to the Capitol that day to celebrate instead had to dig in one more time, with Stewart bringing the high-wattage attention that led the Republicans to reconsider. Kaiser Health News, oregonlive, 10 Aug. 2022 On the other hand, a recession may only lead remote workers to dig in their heels. Jane Thier, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2022 Chicago Bulls’ gritty effort in Game 2 win gives the Milwaukee Bucks something to worry about ] For his teammates — even veterans such as DeRozan — Caruso has become a galvanizing force to dig in deeper on defense. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 The effects so far have been mixed; rather than fully persuading the doubters, these efforts have tended to cause people to dig in, pitting those who trust authority against those who distrust it. Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2022 Attend this presentation at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 to dig in and get started on your research journey. Shirley Macfarland, cleveland, 11 Aug. 2022 Best served hot out of the oven served with forks for everyone to dig in along with a few dipping sauces, including garlic-lemon tahini, yogurt mixed with harissa, or a bright green zhoug or crushed green chiles and garlic. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 Any hypothesis about a particular dinosaur or group is likely to be tested and tested again as paleontologists dig in. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 See More
Marion Fischel, Sun Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Rosie and veterans who had come to the Capitol that day to celebrate instead had to dig in one more time, with Stewart bringing the high-wattage attention that led the Republicans to reconsider. Kaiser Health News, oregonlive, 10 Aug. 2022 On the other hand, a recession may only lead remote workers to dig in their heels. Jane Thier, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2022 Chicago Bulls’ gritty effort in Game 2 win gives the Milwaukee Bucks something to worry about ] For his teammates — even veterans such as DeRozan — Caruso has become a galvanizing force to dig in deeper on defense. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2022 The effects so far have been mixed; rather than fully persuading the doubters, these efforts have tended to cause people to dig in, pitting those who trust authority against those who distrust it. Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2022 Attend this presentation at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 to dig in and get started on your research journey. Shirley Macfarland, cleveland, 11 Aug. 2022 Best served hot out of the oven served with forks for everyone to dig in along with a few dipping sauces, including garlic-lemon tahini, yogurt mixed with harissa, or a bright green zhoug or crushed green chiles and garlic. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 14 July 2022 Any hypothesis about a particular dinosaur or group is likely to be tested and tested again as paleontologists dig in. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1827, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
digging in
verb
1
as in hanging on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hanging on
- keeping up
- carrying on
- persevering
- following through (with)
- knuckling down
- persisting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- knocking off
- giving in
- submitting
- quitting
- giving up
- yielding
- bowing
- hanging back
- surrendering
- succumbing
- hesitating
- faltering
- wavering
- vacillating
- wobbling
- wabbling
- shilly-shallying
2
as in pigging out
Synonyms & Similar Words
- pigging out
- chowing (down)
- dining out
- repasting
- banqueting
- feasting
- overeating
- overfeeding
- glutting
- dining
- feeding
- refreshing
- gormandizing
- grazing
- partaking
- snacking
- eating
- victualing
- messing
- gorging
- victualling
- noshing
- nibbling
- boarding
- faring
- picking
- picnicking
- lunching
- supping
- breakfasting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fasting
- dieting
3
as in curling up
Synonyms & Similar Words
- curling up
- camping (out)
- burrowing
- camping
- housing
- anchoring
- bivouacking
- parking
- positioning
- locating
- deploying
- planting
- harboring
- emplacing
- stationing
- situating
- installing
- lodging
- roosting
- perching
- setting
- fixing
- nestling
- ensconcing
- settling