dusty

1 of 2

adjective

ˈdə-stē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: covered or abounding with dust

2

: consisting of dust : powdery

3

: resembling dust

4

: lacking vitality : dry

dusty scholarship

5

British : unsatisfactory

—used especially in the phrases dusty answer and not so dusty

dustily

ˈdə-stə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

ˈdə-stē-nəs 

noun

dustiness

2 of 2

noun

dust·​i·​ness -tēnə̇s 

-tin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being dusty

Synonyms of dusty

Adjective

• fine
• powdery

Examples of dusty in a Sentence

Adjective

He pulled dusty candlesticks from the shelf.

His new tie is a dusty blue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Digitize your dusty DVDs and reclaim shelf space with DVDneXtCOPY, a powerful DVD ripper that preserves your collection. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 26 Sep. 2026

The hot and dusty city streets were bathed in decorative green light to celebrate National Day, as hundreds of electronic billboards projected the sword and script of the Saudi flag, shown fluttering as if caught in a breeze. — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026

Raghubir Goyal, an eccentric veteran of the briefing room who serves as White House correspondent for India Globe, a newspaper that appears to no longer exist, stood at the press secretary’s dusty podium and filmed selfie videos. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026

Her memories of favorite foods has remained intact, like images preserved in a dusty family album. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dusty

• dusty miller

Rhymes for dusty

• crusty
• gusty
• lusty
• musty
• rusty
• trusty

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective

ˈdəs-tē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: filled or covered with dust

2

: resembling dust

dusty soil

dustily

-tə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

-tē-nəs 

noun