What does the phrasal verb “dig around” mean?

What are the definitions of “dig around”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Search or rummage in a place.

  People remember the smell from when they were children, digging around looking for worms.

• 2. To search or look for something in a thorough or casual manner.

  Plus she's been digging around in her attic and uncovered some rarer records that haven't been played for years.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “dig around”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb dig around is to search or rummage in a place, often in a thorough or casual manner. It can be used when looking for something specific or just exploring a particular area.

What are the different verb forms of “dig around”?

Root Verb	dig around
Third Person Singular Present	digs around
Present Participle	digging around
Simple Past	dug around
Past Participle	dug around

Example

I need to dig around in my closet to find my old photo albums.

Example

She digs around in her purse to find her keys.

Example

He is digging around in the garage for his toolbox.

Example

Yesterday, they dug around in the attic to find their old toys.

Example

The kids had dug around in the sandbox, looking for buried treasure.

What kind of phrasal verb is “dig around”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Intransitive verb

“dig around” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.

Example

I dug around in my backpack to find my wallet.

Example

She dug around in the drawer for a pen.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“dig around” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

I dug around in my backpack to find my wallet.

Example

She dug around in the drawer for a pen.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “dig around”?

Dig around for information

To search for information, often in a thorough or casual manner.

Example

The journalist dug around for information about the scandal.

Dig around in one's memory

To search one's memory for a specific piece of information or a particular memory.

Example

I had to dig around in my memory to remember her name.

Dig around in the dirt

To search or rummage in the soil, often for gardening or finding something buried.

Example

The children were digging around in the dirt, looking for worms.

Good things to know

Does “dig around” have an informal or formal tone?

Dig around is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in everyday conversations. In more formal settings, it may be replaced with synonyms such as 'search,' 'rummage,' or 'investigate.'

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “dig around”?

Synonyms

• search
• rummage
• explore
• investigate
• probe
• examine
• sift
• browse

Antonyms

• ignore
• overlook
• neglect
• abandon
• disregard
• leave alone