rustled; rustling
ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ 
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
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
Jack McCallum
b
: forage
3
: to steal (livestock) especially from a farm or ranch
: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds
Synonyms
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 WebTiziana Cardini, Vogue, 4 July 2024
The night mode is an especially nice touch—the display dims and the quietest purifier setting kicks in so you won’t be rustled from your slumber as the air around you gets refreshed.
—Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2024
Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Here, there’s a hush, the sterile, soapy fragrance of hand foam, the snap of gloves and face masks, the muted rustle of gowns.
—Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014
See all Example Sentences for rustle 
Verb
Christina Aguilera, clad in a hot pink bodysuit with matching feather boa, pianist Micah McLaurin, dazzling in a rustling golden mantle and sequined top, and Trixie Mattel took to the stage on the opening night.
—Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 4 July 2024
The night mode is an especially nice touch—the display dims and the quietest purifier setting kicks in so you won’t be rustled from your slumber as the air around you gets refreshed.
—Sarah Madaus, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2024
Noun
But as the forest leaves rustle, Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) dragon Vhagar — the largest of the Targaryen brood — awakes.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Here, there’s a hush, the sterile, soapy fragrance of hand foam, the snap of gloves and face masks, the muted rustle of gowns.
—Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014
See all Example Sentences for rustle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rustle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rustle. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
rustle
2 of 2 noun
: a quick series of small sounds
the rustle of leaves
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