# dig

/ˈdɪɡ/ (US) · /dˈɪɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dig
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to move earth

verb · CEFR A2

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

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

- The dog started to dig a hole in the garden to hide its bone.
- The construction crew had to dig deep into the clay to lay a stable foundation for the new skyscraper.

### 2. to investigate

verb · CEFR B2

to search for information or secrets.

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

- The reporter began to dig into the company's history to find the truth.
- Journalists continued to dig for evidence of corruption, eventually uncovering a series of offshore accounts linked to the ministry.

### 3. to like or understand

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to enjoy, appreciate, or understand something.

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

- I really dig your new jacket; where did you get it?
- While the older generation found the rhythm chaotic, the younger fans really seemed to dig the experimental jazz fusion.

### 4. archaeological site

noun · CEFR B1

a place where people search for old objects from history.

For teachers: an archaeological or paleontological excavation site or the project itself.

- The students spent their summer working at a Roman dig in France.
- The university-led dig yielded several significant artefacts that challenged previous theories about the settlement's age.

### 5. sarcastic remark

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a clever but slightly mean comment about someone.

For teachers: a critical, sarcastic, or insulting remark aimed at a person.

- He couldn't resist taking a dig at her messy desk.
- Her speech was mostly professional, though she did include a subtle dig at her rival's failed policy initiative.

### 6. a poke

noun · CEFR B1

a quick push with a finger or elbow.

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

- She gave him a dig in the ribs to make him stop talking.
- A sharp dig in the elbow was the only way to get his attention during the long, long, boring lecture.

## Examples

- He made a little dig about my messy hair.
- During the debate, the candidate couldn't resist taking a dig at his opponent's previous voting record.
- The columnist's latest piece was ostensibly a review of the film, but it functioned primarily as a series of sharp digs at the director's perceived lack of artistic integrity.

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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.