rustle

1 of 2

verb

rus·​tle ˈrə-səl How to pronounce rustle (audio)
rustled; rustling ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce rustle (audio)
Synonyms of rustle

intransitive verb

1
: to make or cause a rustle
2
a
: to act or move with energy or speed
b
: to forage food
3
: to steal cattle

transitive verb

1
: to cause to rustle
2
a
: to obtain by one's own exertions
—often used with up
… able to rustle up $5,000 bail …—Jack McCallum
b
: forage
3
: to steal (livestock) especially from a farm or ranch

rustle

2 of 2

noun

: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds

Synonyms of rustle

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Verb

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Examples of rustle in a Sentence

Verb The trees rustled in the wind. Her skirt rustled as she walked. He rustled the papers on his desk. Noun He heard a rustle of leaves behind him.
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.
Verb
Soft herbs over top add a rustling texture, and a prominent burst of dill. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Green noise is a variation of white noise built from nature sounds like flowing rivers, rustling leaves and gentle rain, and it is often recommended for people kept awake by stress. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
Once reading time kicked off during a recent meetup, the only sounds from the group were the quiet rustle of pages turning and the conscientious nibbling of snacks and sipping of tea as the cafe continued its bustle. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 22 Oct. 2026 The full textile experience, after all, is multisensory—visual, tactile, and sometimes auditory (think of taffeta’s distinctive rustle). — Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rustle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rustelen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1624, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rustle was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing rustle

Rhymes for rustle

See All Rhymes for rustle

Browse Nearby Words

rust joint
rustle
rustler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

rustle

1 of 2 verb
rus·​tle ˈrəs-əl How to pronounce rustle (audio)
rustled; rustling ˈrəs-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce rustle (audio)
1
: to make or cause to make a rustle
2
: to act or move with energy
3
: to steal (as cattle) from the range
rustler
ˈrəs-(ə-)lər How to pronounce rustle (audio)
noun

rustle

2 of 2 noun
: a quick series of small sounds
the rustle of leaves
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