dugout

American  

[duhg-out] / 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

Etymology

Origin of dugout

1715–25, noun use of verb phrase dug out

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

Challenges must be requested immediately and can only come from the batter, pitcher or catcher with no assistance from the dugout.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

Rodri, who had been substituted in extra-time, ran over from the dugout to join his team-mates.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Then he turned to the visitors dugout, grinned and lifted both fists above his head.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

As the announcer called out his name in the lineup, Eliezer Alfonzo hugged fellow Venezuelan Miguel Rojas before the catcher walked down the dugout to greet his teammates and coaches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

After the inning ended, I went back to the dugout.

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

The four shelter in forest dugouts, hunting and gathering by day and telling stories at night.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

Eastern Ukraine used to feel like a throwback to the Western Front in World War One, with trenches and dugouts reinforced against artillery and snipers.

From BBC ● Feb. 24, 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

Crew chief Marvin Hudson emerged from the huddle and issued warnings to both dugouts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2025

At the snow-covered airfield were three dugouts, a runway, and a taxiway.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• cave
• cellar