dig
/dɪɡ/- 1.
To break up, move, or remove earth with a tool or with your hands. It can also mean to make a hole or tunnel by doing this.
- They dug a hole for the new tree.
- Please dig the garden before noon.
- The workers dug under the wall.
- 2.
To search deeply for information or hidden facts. People often use it in journalism, research, or informal speech.
- I dug into the company's history.
- She dug up an old photo from the archive.
- Can you dig for more details?
- 3.
Informal: to like, understand, or enjoy something. This use is more casual and sounds old-fashioned in some contexts.
- I really dig this song.
- Do you dig his style?
- They dig quiet cafes.
An act of digging, or a place where something has been dug out. In informal English, it can also mean a home or place to live.
- That was a deep dig.
- We found old pottery at the dig.
- Nice digs!
Adinary Nuance
Use dig for physical work in the ground, but excavate sounds more formal and often suggests careful or large-scale digging. For finding information, dig up or dig into is more natural than just 'search' when the effort is deep or persistent. The casual meaning 'to like' is different from enjoy or like because it sounds informal and a bit dated.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đào
- Spanish
- cavar
- Chinese
- 挖
- Japanese
- 掘る
- Korean
- 파다
Etymology
Old English had the verb 'dīcian', meaning to make a ditch or dig. The modern verb 'dig' developed in Middle English and became common for earth-moving and informal speech.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'dig' formal or informal?
- The earth-moving meaning is neutral. The meaning 'to like' is informal and can sound old-fashioned.
- What is the difference between 'dig' and 'excavate'?
- 'Dig' is common and simple. 'Excavate' is more formal and often used for archaeology or construction.
- How do I use 'dig into' in a sentence?
- Use it for looking closely at something. Example: 'The reporter dug into the records.'
- Can 'dig' mean a home?
- Yes, in informal English, 'digs' can mean someone's home or room.