Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To create or form by digging: To excavate or hollow out a space, channel, or hole from the ground or another material.
   • To remove by digging: To extract, unearth, or free something from where it is buried or covered, such as from earth, snow, or debris.

Usage

The verb "dig out" is used with a direct object. It describes the physical action of using tools or one's hands to remove material in order to create something or to uncover and retrieve something that is buried. - It often implies significant effort or the clearing of a substantial amount of material. - The object can be the thing being created (e.g., a hole) or the thing being retrieved (e.g., a car).

Examples

• Creating by digging:

  • The engineers had to dig out a new foundation for the building.
  • We dug out a channel to divert the water away from the house.

• Removing by digging:

  • After the avalanche, it took hours to dig out the buried car.
  • They are trying to dig out the ancient artifacts from the site.
  • I need to dig out my winter boots from the back of the closet. (Figurative extension: retrieving from a packed or cluttered space.)

Advanced Usage

• "Dig oneself out": To extricate oneself from a difficult situation, often used metaphorically.
  • After the financial crisis, the company spent years trying to dig itself out of debt.
• "Dig out from under": To manage a large backlog of work or obligations.
  • I'm finally digging out from under all the emails I missed during my vacation.

Variants and Related Words

• Dig (verb): The base form, meaning to break up and move earth.
• Excavate (verb): A more formal synonym, often used in archaeological or construction contexts.
• Unearth (verb): To find something buried in the ground, often by digging; also used for discovering hidden information.

Synonyms

• Excavate
• Unearth
• Extricate (for the "removing" sense)
• Retrieve (for the "removing" sense)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Dig up: Very similar to "dig out" in the "remove by digging" sense. It can also mean to discover information.
  • They dug up the old tree stump.
  • The journalist dug up some scandalous facts.
• Dig into: To begin eating heartily; or to investigate or delve into something.
  • He dug into his meal.
  • We need to dig into the company's financial records.

Related Idioms

• Dig deep: To make a great effort, especially to find resources (money, energy, courage).
  • We'll have to dig deep to meet our fundraising goal.
• Dig one's own grave: To do something that causes one's own failure or ruin.
  • By lying to the boss, he's just digging his own grave.

Verb

1. create by digging
   • dig a hole
   • dig out a channel
2. dig out from underneath earth or snow
3. remove, harvest, or recover by digging
   • dig salt
   • dig coal