What does burrowed mean?
"Burrowed" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "burrow," which describes the act of digging a hole or tunnel into earth, snow, or another substance, most often for shelter or habitation. It is used chiefly of animals such as rabbits, badgers, foxes, and rodents, which excavate elaborate underground networks called burrows. By natural extension, the word applies to people or creatures pressing snugly into something — a child who burrowed under the blankets, or a dog that burrowed into a pile of laundry. It can also suggest searching through something laboriously, as though digging: he burrowed through his backpack looking for his keys. The word carries connotations of concealment, comfort, persistence, and sometimes evasion, since one might burrow away to hide from trouble. Its figurative uses make it a vivid alternative to plain verbs like "dug" or "hid," adding texture and imagery to everyday description.
verbPast tense and past participle of "burrow": to dig a hole or tunnel into the ground or into something, typically for shelter or habitation, or to move into or through something by such digging.
- (of an animal) to dig a hole or tunnel in the ground for dwelling or refuge
- to hide or nestle oneself into something snugly
- to search through something as if digging
"The rabbit burrowed deep beneath the hedge to escape the fox."
"The badgers had burrowed beneath the old stone wall for generations."
"She burrowed deeper under the blankets when the alarm went off."
The words "burrow," "borough," "bury," and even "burglar" all share the same ancient Germanic root meaning "fortress" — so a rabbit's burrow is, etymologically speaking, its little castle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of burrowed
"Burrowed" derives from the noun "burrow," first attested in English in the early 13th century, originally denoting a fortified place before narrowing to mean an animal's hole or shelter. The word comes from the Old English verb "burgian," meaning to dwell or fortify, from Proto-Germanic *burg-, the same root that yields "borough," "bury," and "burgh." The verb form "burrow," meaning to dig like an animal, developed from this noun and has been in use since at least the early modern period.
Related word forms
How burrowed is actually used
Most commonly used of animals digging tunnels, but frequently extended metaphorically to people or things nestling into soft material or searching through piles.
Easily confused with burrowed
"Burrowed" means dug or tunneled into something, while "borrowed" means took something with permission and intended to return it.