dugout

American  

[duhg-aut] / ˈdʌgˌaʊt /

noun

• dugouts
  plural

1. a boat made by hollowing out a log.

2. Baseball. a roofed structure enclosed on three sides and with the fourth side open and facing the playing field, usually with the floor below ground level, where the players sit when not on the field.

3. a rough shelter or dwelling formed by an excavation in the ground, in the face of a bank, in the side of a hill, etc., especially one used by soldiers.

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dugout British  

/ ˈdʌɡˌaʊt /

noun

1. a canoe made by hollowing out a log

2. military a covered excavation dug to provide shelter

3. slang a retired officer, former civil servant, etc, recalled to employment

4. (at a sports ground) the covered bench where managers, trainers, etc sit and players wait when not on the field

5. (in the Canadian prairies) a reservoir dug on a farm in which water from rain and snow is collected for use in irrigation, watering livestock, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dugouts
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of dugout

1715–25, noun use of verb phrase dug out

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Explanation

In baseball, a dugout is the area reserved for one team to sit while players wait for their turn at bat. Each team has its own dugout. A dugout is typically a low structure with a roof that's open at the front so the players can see the baseball field. One team's dugout is in the foul zone between third base and home plate, and the other's is between first base and home plate. Baseball dugouts are named for the original dugouts, temporary military trenches where troops shelter during battle. A boat made from a hollowed out log is another kind of dugout.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dugout dugouts

On the ground, peering out of a dugout, three Ukrainian troops aimed their rifles at the approaching man.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Ohtani turned to the Dodgers’ dugout, spread his arms wide and tossed his bat to the side.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

At least Skubal got to drink his water in the relative cool of the dugout between innings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

The moment Cam Schlittler emerged from the dugout and headed to the mound for the seventh inning on Tuesday, the New York Yankees’ plan to conquer October immediately became clear.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

I slow further when I hit the park, half because I'm out of breath and half because so long as I can't see into the dugout, he's there and he isn't.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan

Twenty years ago, Dambrauskas looked out over the pitch at Old Trafford during one of his job interviews, dreaming that one day he would stand in one of the dugouts.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

His face bore the extreme exhaustion typical of men who have spent too long in front-line dugouts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino added: "It's really scary. It's terrifying. I mean, we all sit in these dugouts every night and in a lot of ways you kind of feel like sitting ducks."

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025

Friday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium was different — from the energy on the concourse to the noise from the dugouts and ultimately, the power from the Bruins’ bats.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2025

It could get so cold in these dugouts that sometimes your hair would freeze to the wooden planks of your bunk while you were sleeping.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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