Phrasal verb
dig out
Informal
Definition
phrasal verb. to find something that you have not used or seen for a long time by searching through a storage space.
phrasal verb. to locate and retrieve an item from storage or a cluttered environment after a period of neglect or disuse.
Examples
“I need to dig out my winter coat from the attic.”
“She managed to dig out some old family photos to show her grandchildren during the holiday.”
“After hours of searching through the archives, the researcher finally dug out the original manuscript that had been missing for decades.”
Examples
simple
“I need to dig out my winter coat from the attic.”
contextual
“She managed to dig out some old family photos to show her grandchildren during the holiday.”
complex
“After hours of searching through the archives, the researcher finally dug out the original manuscript that had been missing for decades.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dig out” in context.
Verb
01. dig out an old photo
“I managed to dig out an old photo of my grandparents from the attic.”
verb + adj + noun
02. dig out and wash the curtains
“We need to dig out and wash the curtains before the guests arrive for the weekend.”
verb + and + verb
03. dig out some information for the project
“The researcher had to dig out some information for the project from the national archives.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
04. dig out the original documents
“The lawyer asked me to dig out the original documents to prove my identity.”
verb + adj + noun
05. dig out your winter clothes
“It is getting cold, so it is time to dig out your winter clothes from storage.”
verb + possessive + noun
06. finally dig out the passport
“After searching for an hour, she finally dug out the passport from the bottom of the drawer.”
adv + verb
Usage
usually used with physical objects that are buried under other things or hidden in cupboards.
Teaching tip
highlight the metaphorical 'digging'—it implies the object is at the bottom of a pile or deep inside a drawer, requiring effort to find.
Pitfall
I dug out it from the box.
I dug it out from the box.
when using a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
dig + (object) + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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