ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dig

v. · n.
US //ˈdɪɡ// UK //dˈɪɡ// dig
Irregular verb past dug past participle dug
  1. 1 to move earth (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move soil or sand to make a hole, usually with your hands or a tool.

    to break up, turn over, or remove earth or other material, typically with a tool or claws.

    Example

    The dog started to dig a hole in the garden to hide its bone.

    Example

    The construction crew had to dig deep into the clay to lay a stable foundation for the new skyscraper.
  2. 2 to investigate (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to search for information or secrets.

    to investigate or research intensively to uncover hidden information, often followed by 'up' or 'into'.

    Example

    The reporter began to dig into the company's history to find the truth.

    Example

    Journalists continued to dig for evidence of corruption, eventually uncovering a series of offshore accounts linked to the ministry.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to like or understand (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    to enjoy, appreciate, or understand something.

    to appreciate, enjoy, or comprehend something; carries a distinct mid-20th-century counterculture nuance.

    Example

    I really dig your new jacket; where did you get it?

    Example

    While the older generation found the rhythm chaotic, the younger fans really seemed to dig the experimental jazz fusion.
  2. 4 archaeological site (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a place where people search for old objects from history.

    an archaeological or paleontological excavation site or the project itself.

    Example

    The students spent their summer working at a Roman dig in France.

    Example

    The university-led dig yielded several significant artefacts that challenged previous theories about the settlement's age.
  3. 5 sarcastic remark (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a clever but slightly mean comment about someone.

    a critical, sarcastic, or insulting remark aimed at a person.

    Example

    He couldn't resist taking a dig at her messy desk.

    Example

    Her speech was mostly professional, though she did include a subtle dig at her rival's failed policy initiative.
  4. 6 a poke (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a quick push with a finger or elbow.

    a sharp poke or thrust, often with an elbow or finger.

    Example

    She gave him a dig in the ribs to make him stop talking.

    Example

    A sharp dig in the elbow was the only way to get his attention during the long, long, boring lecture.
Etymology 1

From Middle English diggen (“to dig”, 13th c.), an alteration of dīken, from Old English dīcian (“to dig a ditch, mound up earth”), from Proto-West Germanic dīkōn, which see for cognates. This verb is denominal from Proto-Germanic dīkaz (“pool, puddle; dyke, ditch”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeygʷ- (“to stab, dig”). The form with g may have been influenced by Old French *diguer, a variant of dikier, itself from the West Germanic verb above. French forms with g are attested only in the 15th c., thus 200 years later than in English. On the other hand, French has according forms also for the underlying noun (cf. digue) and the phonetic development is more plausible in French than in English.

Etymology 2

From African American Vernacular English; due to lack of writing of slave speech, etymology is difficult to trace, but it has been suggested that it is from Wolof dëgg, dëgga (“to understand, to appreciate”). It has also been suggested that it is from Irish dtuig, thus being a doublet of twig. Others do not propose a distinct etymology, instead considering this a semantic shift of the existing English term (compare dig in/dig into).

Etymology 3

Shortening.

Etymology 4

Unknown. Compare Middle English digge.

Idioms10 entries

© 2026 English Reference