# dig out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dig-out
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to find something that you have not used or seen for a long time by searching through a storage space.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I dug out it from the box." but "I dug it out from the box." — when using a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.