dig

DIG/dɪɡ/

Verbdigs, digging, dug

Noun pluraldigs

20 meanings of dig

Practice

1
make a holeverbtransitive or intransitive
To move dirt or rock out of the way, usually to make a hole.
Like scooping out sand with your hands to make a hole at the beach.
I dig a hole near the fence every spring for the garden.
The dog loves to dig in the soft sand by the water.
UsageThe past is dug (not ~~incorrect: digged~~).
Similarexcavate, burrow, tunnel, shovel
Oppositefill
2
investigateverbfigurativelytransitive or intransitive
To search carefully for facts or hidden information.
Like searching through a messy drawer to find one small thing.
Reporters dig for the truth behind the scandal.
She dug up old records to trace her family history.
UsageSay dig into the records or dig up facts.
Similardelve, probe, investigate, unearth, research
Note
3
take from groundverbtransitive
To take something out of the ground by digging.
Like pulling a buried toy out of the sandbox.
They dig potatoes from the field each fall.
We dug up some old coins in the backyard.
UsageSay dig up potatoes.
Similarunearth, extract, mine, harvest
Oppositebury, plant
4
likeverbslangtransitive
To enjoy or like something a lot.
Like giving something an enthusiastic thumbs up.
I really dig this song.
Louie said, "I dig this Theo. I'm gonna learn Swahili and rap with him."
1976, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s GiftHere, dig means to like or appreciate someone.
Similarlike, enjoy, love, appreciate, fancy
Oppositedislike, hate
Note
5
archaeologynouncountable
A project where people carefully dig to find old objects or bones, or the place where they do this.
Like a treasure hunt where the prize is buried history.
The students joined a dig in Egypt last summer.
Several digs near the river uncovered ancient tools.
UsageSay they went on a dig.
Similarexcavation
6
press intoverbtransitive
To push or poke something sharply into another thing.
Like pressing your finger hard into a lump of dough.
She dug her elbow into his ribs to wake him.
He likes to dig his fingers into the soft clay.
UsageSay dig your nails into your hand.
Similarpress, sink, drive, jab, poke
Note
7
mean remarknouncountable
A mean or sarcastic comment aimed at someone.
Like a small verbal poke meant to sting.
Her comment was a clear dig at his cooking.
He couldn't resist a dig about my messy desk.
UsageSay a dig at someone.
Similarjibe
Oppositecompliment
Note
8
a volleyball savenouncountable
In volleyball, a save that keeps a hard-hit ball off the floor.
Like catching a fast ball softly so it doesn't hit the floor.
Her quick dig kept the long rally alive.
That dig saved the point for the home team.
Similarsave, return

Less common meanings

9
understandverbdatedtransitive
To understand what someone means.
Like the moment a puzzle suddenly makes sense.
Do you dig what I'm saying?
Do you dig what I mean, or should I explain it again?
UsagePeople said you dig?
Similarget, understand, grasp, follow, see
Note
10
verbtransitive
In volleyball, to stop a hard attack by passing the ball back up.
Like blocking a fast ball with your arms so it bounces back up.
She dug the spike just before it hit the floor.
She dove to dig the hard spike just before it hit the floor.
Similarreturn
Note
11
sharp pokenouncountable
A sharp push or poke, often with something pointed.
Like a quick poke from a friend trying to get your attention.
He gave her a playful dig in the side with his elbow.
A quick dig from the stick made the horse step forward.
UsageSay a dig in the ribs.
Similarjab, poke
12
batting turnnouncountable
A team's or player's turn at batting in cricket.
He scored fifty runs in his first dig of the match.
The team collapsed badly in their second dig.
UsageSay his first dig.
Similarinnings, knock
13
noundialectalUKcountable
A hand tool used for breaking up and turning over soil.
Similarspade, shovel
Note
14
nounarchaic
A hard punch, especially one landed under the other fighter's guard in boxing.
Note
15
verbdatedUSintransitive
To study or work very hard in a slow, steady, tiring way.
Peter dug at his books all the harder.
1894, Paul Leicester Ford, The Honorable Peter StirlingHere, dug means studied very hard in a slow, steady way.
Similarslog, plod, grind, toil, cram
Note
16
noundatedUScountable
A student who studies very hard in a slow, heavy, plodding way.
Similargrind, swot, plodder
Oppositeslacker
Note
17
nounobsolete
A duck (the web-footed water bird that swims on ponds) in old Lancashire speech.
Powltrey, &c, &c. Item ten turkeys … Item three Digs [an old Cheshire word for duck] and a Drake … Item ffower Capons … [The word's gloss has been inserted by Earwaker]
10 March, 1616, excerpt from "A true and perfect Inventory of all the Goods &c. which late were of Philippe Oldfeid," reprinted in 1890Here, Digs means ducks, in old Lancashire and Cheshire speech.
Note
18
nounslang
A rare or unusual vinyl record found and bought in a used shop.
19
noun
The work of digging in the ground to search for gold.
20
nouncolloquial
A common heart medicine, called dig for short, used to steady the heartbeat.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of dig apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5–8, 10–16

From an old English word for digging a ditch. The 'g' may have come from an Old French form.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Dig derives from an Old English word meaning to dig a ditch. en.wiktionary.org
An Old French form may explain the g. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4, 9

From African American Vernacular English. Its exact origin is unclear, but it may come from Wolof dëgg ("to understand").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

This sense of dig comes from African American Vernacular English. en.wikipedia.org
Its ultimate origin is uncertain. listserv.linguistlist.org
A possible source is Wolof dëgg, meaning 'to understand'. dept.english.wisc.edu

Meaning 17

No one knows where it comes from. A similar word, digge, meant "duck" in English of the Middle Ages.