dugout

American  

[duhg-out] / ˈdʌgˌaʊt /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of dugout

1715–25, noun use of verb phrase dug out

Example Sentences

At 3-0, in the dugout, Clarke's assistant Steven Naismith was having certain thoughts.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Team Italy, for example, celebrated home runs by donning an Armani jacket in the dugout and taking a ceremonial shot of espresso.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026

It was, however, among Skenes’s most impressive showings, considering the absurd level of talent in the opposing dugout.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

The hitters of lovable Team Italy celebrated home runs with shots of Italian espresso in a dugout dripping with cheek kisses and caffeine.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

We’re leading the cheers in our dugout, and all the other Renegades are lined up next to Malik, and just like we have been all game, we’ve broken out our rally caps.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

Related Words

• cave
• cellar