WordLens

dig

1 of 2verb
/dɪɡ/
Forms:digs,digging,dug,dug
1

to remove earth or another substance using a tool, machine, or hands

B2
  • The archaeologist used a shovel to dig for ancient artifacts.
  • Children love to dig in the sand at the beach.
  • Miners use heavy machinery to dig for valuable minerals.
  • The treasure hunter carefully dug for buried treasure using a metal detector.
Synonyms:
turn overcut intodelve
2

to extract something from the ground using a tool

transitive
  • The archaeologists dug artifacts from the site.
  • The farmer dug potatoes from the ground.
  • The archaeologist dug bones from the prehistoric cave.
  • The miners dug coal from the earth.
Synonyms:
dig outdig up
3

to create a hole or cavity by removing earth or soil

transitive
  • Sarah dug a hole in the garden to plant her new flowers.
  • The workers dug a trench to lay down the pipes for the new building.
  • The farmer dug furrows in the field to plant seeds for the upcoming season.
  • The family gathered to dig a grave for their beloved pet in the backyard.
  • Miners dug tunnels deep into the mountain to extract valuable minerals.
Synonyms:
dig out
4

to understand or comprehend the meaning or significance of something

transitive
  • After reading the article twice, I finally dug the nuances of quantum mechanics.
  • The movie had a lot of hidden messages, but I dug the underlying theme of redemption.
  • Growing up in a different country, it took him some time to dig American humor.
  • It might seem obscure at first, but once you dig the symbolism, the poem becomes incredibly moving.
Synonyms:
graspcomprehendgrokget the picturesavvycompassapprehend
5

to poke or push something lightly with a pointed object or finger

transitive
  • The child giggled as she dug her brother in the ribs to get his attention.
  • He gently dug me in the arm to remind me of our secret agreement.
  • She dug her friend in the shoulder to wake her up during the boring lecture.
  • During the race, the coach dug the runner in the back to push him forward.
Synonyms:
prodjabstabpoke
6

to work diligently and methodically

transitive
  • He dug into his textbooks every night to improve his understanding of calculus.
  • Sarah dug into her research materials for months to write her doctoral thesis on marine biology.
  • He dug into grammar books and practiced speaking with native speakers to become fluent in Spanish.
  • The team dug into market data and conducted thorough research to prepare for their sales pitch.
  • She dug into music theory and practiced piano scales diligently to improve her skills.
Synonyms:
moiltravaildrudgelaborgrindfagtoillabour