1
: fine particles of matter (as of earth)
2
: the particles into which something disintegrates
3
a
: something worthless
b
: a state of humiliation
4
a
: the earth especially as a place of burial
b
: the surface of the ground
5
a
: a cloud of dust
b
6
archaic
: a single particle (as of earth)
7
British
: refuse ready for collection
dusted; dusting; dusts
1
archaic
: to make dusty
2
: to make free of dust
dust the living room
3
a
: to sprinkle with fine particles
a cake dusted with sugar
b
: to sprinkle in the form of dust
4
: to throw a fastball close to (a batter) : brush back
—often used with off
5
: to defeat badly (as in a race)
1
of a bird
: to work dust into the feathers
2
: to remove dust
3
: to give off dust
Examples of dust in a Sentence
Noun
The floor was covered with dust.
You can see the dust particles floating through the air.
There is not a speck of dust in that house.
As the car sped down the dirt road, it left a cloud of dust behind.
He wiped the chalk dust off his hands.
Verb
I dust at least once a week.
Dust the pan with flour.
The crops will be dusted with pesticide.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, curtains can gather a lot of dust, mold, or dirt if not cleaned every so often, and can lead to allergies and an unhygienic home.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Work from Top to Bottom Start your week dusting and wiping down upper surfaces like countertops and cabinets, then concentrate on floors.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
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Noun
Glossy floors—especially in darker colors—reflect footprints, pet hair, dust, and dirt.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, curtains can gather a lot of dust, mold, or dirt if not cleaned every so often, and can lead to allergies and an unhygienic home.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Winter is also a wonderful surprise, when soft snow blankets valley trails and dusts the mountaintops.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Work from Top to Bottom Start your week dusting and wiping down upper surfaces like countertops and cabinets, then concentrate on floors.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
Cite this Entry
“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dust. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dust
1 of 2 noun1
a
: fine dry powdery particles (as of earth)
b
: a fine powder
2
: the powdery remains of bodies once alive
3
: something worthless
4
: the surface of the ground
dust
2 of 2 verb1
: to make free of dust : brush or wipe away dust
dusted the living room
2
: to sprinkle with dust or as a dust
dust a pan with flour
dust insecticide on plants
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