rustle

1 of 2

verb

rus·​tle ˈrə-səl 

rustled; rustling ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ 

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

Verb

• browse
• forage
• graze
• pasture

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

Verb

The officers were chosen from Kenya’s General Service Unit and the Administration Police, two paramilitary units tasked with dealing with everything from riots and cattle rustling to protecting borders and the president. —Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 14 May 2024

For the bend of her arms, the rustling trail of her dress, the color of that silk—like a woman bleeding out. —Sophie Yun Mancini, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024

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

Phrases Containing rustle

• rustle up

Kids Definition

rustle

1 of 2 verb

rus·​tle ˈrəs-əl 

rustled; rustling ˈrəs-(ə-)liŋ 

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 

noun

rustle

2 of 2 noun

: a quick series of small sounds

the rustle of leaves