rustle

verb rus·tle \ ˈrə-səl \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: rustle in a Sentence

Definition of rustle

rustled; rustling play \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

—

rustler

play \ˈrə-s(ə-)lər\ noun

See rustle defined for English-language learners

See rustle defined for kids

Examples of rustle in a Sentence

The trees rustled in the wind.
Her skirt rustled as she walked.
He rustled the papers on his desk.

Recent Examples of rustle from the Web

Flies buzz around the goose guts in my dogpot, and a big black bumblebee, and everywhere birds are chirping and singing — sparrows and robins and warblers flitting in the branches, rustling in dead leaves, busy setting up homes here on the hill.

— seth kantner, Anchorage Daily News, "We’re failing in our relationship with nature – and with each other," 9 June 2018
The Carpineti brothers claim the firm can, in this way, rustle up a pair of handmade Oxfords in as little as ten days, for about €360—less than a tenth of Lobb’s price.

— The Economist, "Shoemakers bring bespoke footwear to the high street," 22 May 2018
Damaging winds and some thunderstorms are forecast to shake trees and rustle some metro Detroiters Friday.

— aleanna siacon, Detroit Free Press, "Weather forecast: Powerful winds, storms to hit southeast Michigan," 4 May 2018
To pass the farm bill over Democratic opposition, GOP leaders will have to rustle up most of the votes for passage from their own side of the aisle, given the Republicans have a 235-193 seat majority.

— heather haddon, WSJ, "House Republicans Tackle Next Battle: Wooing Their Own on Farm Bill," 6 May 2018
Open your window or back door and listen to birds chirping and the leaves rustling on the trees, day or night, from the 10-room house at 5 Quarter Horse Drive in Ellington.

— karen a. avitabile, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 5 Quarter Horse Drive, Ellington," 2 Nov. 2017
Others recalled having ongoing nightmares about getting attacked, and remembered jumping to attention when dogs barked or trees rustled at night.

— cynthia hubert, sacbee, "In the 1970s, the East Area Rapist stole Sacramento's innocence | The Sacramento Bee," 29 Apr. 2018
With the first notes of music from Star Wars, listeners physically rustled to life in their seats.

— peter dobrin, Philly.com, "Is John Williams the next Kendrik Lamar? His Philadelphia Orchestra visit made us think, why not?," 19 Apr. 2018
In one scene, a subway car breezes by, rustling Nixon’s famous red hair, before flashing to a shot of her onboard looking a little irked.

— noor brara, Vogue, "Why Winning New York May Come Down to Fixing the Subway," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rustle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rustle

Middle English rustelen

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

rustle Synonyms

Phrases

beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it;

rustle

noun

Definition of rustle

: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds

See rustle defined for English-language learners

Examples of rustle in a Sentence

He heard a rustle of leaves behind him.

Recent Examples of rustle from the Web

When Peck walked in, there was a rustle of excitement.

— sasha weiss, New York Times, "Justin Peck Is Making Ballet That Speaks to Our Everyday Lives," 10 May 2018
The boardwalk is a highlight of the visit, with birdsong near and far, the knocking of woodpeckers on nearby trees and the rustle of small woodland creatures amid the flora.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Hendry County: Seminole history alive and well," 6 May 2018
Once there, Mulvihill and his neighbor heard a rustle in the bushes, saw the barrel of a gun and then the flash of gunfire.

— christine pelisek, PEOPLE.com, "Gun Instructor Who Tried to Kill Lover’s Husband: I Regret Cheating on My Wife More Than Shooting," 22 Mar. 2018
So the terrified engineer rustles everyone back and drags people in off the street to replace the original audience for a quick recreation.

— bill goodykoontz, azcentral, "'The Death of Stalin' is brilliant madness," 22 Mar. 2018
Poppy’s voice has the soothing affect of an A.S.M.R. video, those recordings of rustles and whispers capable of evoking tingling sensations on the back of your neck.

— amanda hess, New York Times, "The Rise of the Social Media Fembot," 4 Feb. 2018
Their relatives, wild animals like the coyote and the wolf, have upright ears that help sharpen their hearing, so any rustle of potential prey is heard.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "Why Do Some Dogs Have Floppy Ears? Listen Up: Science Has the Answer," 30 Jan. 2018
And the greatest of these is Christmas. *** Illustration: John Cuneo At Whiteoaks Christmas slipped in subliminally, with the faint rustle of a paperchain in September and the echo of a jingle bell as October turned.

— mick herron, WSJ, "Santa #9: A Christmas Short Story," 22 Dec. 2017
When a character, in desperation, vigorously runs his fingers through his hair, the soundtrack captures every tiny rustle and squeak.

— laura miller, Slate Magazine, "The Twin Peaks reboot is not the fusion of arthouse and mainstream sensibilities that viewers might expect. It’s pure David Lynch—and it’s glorious.," 22 May 2017

First Known Use of rustle

1624

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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RUSTLE Defined for English Language Learners

rustle

verb

Definition of rustle for English Language Learners

: to make a soft, light sound because parts of something are touching or rubbing against each other
: to cause (something) to make a soft, light sound
: to steal (animals) from a farm or ranch