dugout

noun

dug·​out ˈdəg-ˌau̇t How to pronounce dugout (audio)
Synonyms of dugoutnext
1
: a boat made by hollowing out a large log
2
a
: a shelter dug in a hillside
also : a shelter dug in the ground and roofed with sod
b
: an area in the side of a trench for quarters, storage, or protection
3
: either of two low shelters on either side of and facing a baseball diamond that contain the players' benches

Examples of dugout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Milwaukee players bounded out of the dugout to greet Pratt, who debuted in June and became the first rookie to hit an extra-inning homer in the World Series. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 Having used up plenty of relievers, manager Pat Murphy decided to keep impending Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski in the dugout and go with Shane Drohan. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Rays third baseman Junior Caminero screamed in the dugout after Milwaukee had rallied to tie the game. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 An artillery crew soldier from the Separate Rifle Battalion of the National Police in the Zaporizhzhia region prepares shells for a 155-mm Bosnian M94 howitzer in a dugout during a combat mission in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on October 15, 2026. — Anastasiia Parafeniuk, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dugout

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dugout was in 1819

Rhymes for dugout

See All Rhymes for dugout

Browse Nearby Words

dugong
dugout
dugway
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dugout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dugout. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dugout

noun
dug·​out ˈdəg-ˌau̇t How to pronounce dugout (audio)
1
: a boat made by hollowing out a log
2
: a shelter dug in a hillside or in the ground
3
: a low shelter facing a baseball diamond and containing the players' bench

More from Merriam-Webster on dugout

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dugout

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dugout

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