Digging
/ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo excavate or make a hole in the ground.
/ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
To break up and move earth with a tool or hands.
The dog was digging in the yard for a bone.
💡 Simply: It's like when you use a shovel or your hands to make a hole in the ground. Like, when you're burying a bone for your dog or planting a tree.
👶 For kids: Making a hole in the ground with your hands or a tool.
More Examples
The construction crew is digging the foundation for the new building.
He spent the afternoon digging in the garden.
We are digging a tunnel through the mountain.
How It's Used
"I was digging in the garden to plant some flowers."
"The archaeologists were digging at the site to unearth artifacts."
"They are digging a trench for the new pipeline."
To search or investigate thoroughly, often metaphorically.
/ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
To search or explore thoroughly; to investigate.
The detective was digging for evidence at the crime scene.
💡 Simply: It's like you're searching really hard for something, like when you're digging for treasure but it's information or the truth. Think of a detective digging for clues.
👶 For kids: Looking very closely for something, like finding a lost toy.
More Examples
She was digging into her family history to find her ancestors.
The journalist is digging deep into the corruption scandal.
He was digging through the files to find the important documents.
How It's Used
"The investigative journalist was digging for the truth behind the scandal."
"Researchers are digging into the history of the ancient civilization."
"She was digging through her old photos to find a specific one."
From Middle English *diggen*, from Old English *dīgian* ("to dig"), from Proto-Germanic *dīganą* ("to dig"), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ-* ("to dig").
Historically, 'digging' has been used consistently across centuries to describe the act of moving earth. Figurative usage of 'digging' to describe investigating or searching for information became prominent in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine a hand scooping dirt to remember the act of digging.
Word Origin
"To excavate or make a hole."