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
Synonyms of 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
Madeline Merinuk,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
With this capability, Rubin can reveal details of the cosmos across an enormous range of scales, from distant galaxies, to individual stars, to the wispy clouds of dust spread throughout our galaxy.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson
july 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
The key to crispy, golden coconut shrimp is lightly dusting them in cornstarch.
—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dust
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.
Noun
Don’t miss out on the Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum, which works on carpets and hardwoods to get debris like pet hair and dust up with ease.
—
Madeline Merinuk,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
With this capability, Rubin can reveal details of the cosmos across an enormous range of scales, from distant galaxies, to individual stars, to the wispy clouds of dust spread throughout our galaxy.
—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Verb
The appeal is largely practical, since powders travel well in a bag, don’t leave hands greasy and can be dusted on without disturbing whatever’s already on your skin.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson
july 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2026
The key to crispy, golden coconut shrimp is lightly dusting them in cornstarch.
—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dust
Cite this Entry
“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dust. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
